If youre thinking of buying a RivianEV, you might want to reconsider.
The companyhas announcedsome steep price increases for its R1T truck and R1S SUV.
The R1S goes up approximately 20% to $84,000 from $70,000.
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But everyone else who has pre-ordered a Rivian EV?
Theyll have to dig deeper into their pockets.
Specifically, theyll receive a new dual-motor version of the EVsinstead of the quad-motor they originally reserved.
And a 418km-range battery instead of the original 500km-range one.
Unsurprisingly, these changes have enraged Rivians existing customers and rightfully so.
@RJScaringeI get that costs change but this is ridiculous.
Pre-order customers have been scammed.
$17k increase is not due to inflation, this is bait and switch.
I cancelled my R1S today.
Weve been loyal to you.
Wheres the loyalty back?
@RJScaringe@Rivian
Adam Ley (@AdamLey16)March 1, 2022
YIKES!!!
@Rivianwith another swing and a miss.
Honestly, this is cancellation worthy.
No, thank you.
But its not the price increase itself that I find most disturbing.
To change the predetermined price of a product, for which consumers were loyally waiting, is unacceptable.
And to soothe the burn by offering a lesser version of the product for the same price?
Insulting as all hell.
Nor am I saying that manufacturers wont need to increase their vehicle prices to adapt.
But no company wishing to establish itself should let any changes impact pre-existing orders.
Those who cancelled their reservations as a response to the increases will also have the opportunity to reinstate them.
Our team will be sending an email in the next few days with more details.
Is this enough, though, to restore the customers broken trust?
Rivian did damaged consumer loyalty and trust in its brand which will probably take years to heal.
With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
