Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Rivian Automotive has successfully cleared its inventory of the 2023 and 2024 R1T and R1S models following significant discounts announced in April and May, videos shared on social media show.
Last week, the company introduced the refreshed R1T and R1S models, which feature advanced technology such as a new Adaptive Drive Beam system, improved RGB LED light bars, and new motor configurations delivering up to 1,025 horsepower.
The videos showed the previously crowded parking lots at State Farm Headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois, now significantly emptied of Rivian vehicles. This underscores the strong demand for Rivian’s offerings, despite broader industry challenges.
The Illinois-based electric vehicle manufacturer implemented substantial price cuts and incentives to expedite the clearance of its existing stock. The 2023 R1T model included a free upgrade to the Performance Dual-Motor, previously a $5,000 option, and the Large Battery option was reduced from $9,100 to $5,100.
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For the 2023/2024 R1S model, the Quad-Motor upgrade was discounted from $8,000 to $6,000, while the Large Battery option was reduced from $9,100 to $7,100.
In late March, the factory’s parking lots were filled with fresh R1T and R1S models just before the shutdown to improve efficiency. By mid-May, as the new incentives were rolled out, the factory prepared to transition to the 2025 models.
Over the last few days, Rivian‘s Vice President of Software Wassym Bensaid took to Reddit to address questions and provide updates on the company’s Gen 1 vehicles, assuring owners that their cars will continue to receive significant improvements through over-the-air (OTA) updates, even as Gen 2 models boast enhanced features.
Rivian will also introduce native support for streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal via its Connect+ platform, leveraging both vehicle connectivity and an impending phone tethering feature.
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Regarding cost optimisation for the refreshed models, the chief executive RJ Scaringe has recently shared that the company was able to reduce the components in the battery pack from 41 to 16.
In late April, Bensaid hosted a Q&A event in San Jose, where he showcased Rivian’s latest models, the R2 and R3X. During this event, he discussed the forthcoming facelifts for the Rivian R1 models and introduced several new features and upgrades.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe attended recently the Bernstein’s Annual Conference in New York where he revealed that the R3, expected to be launched in early 2026, will be priced at “mid to high $30,000s”.
In the same interview, the chief executive acknowledged that from an investor’s perspective, the second quarter will appear less favorable due to the plant shutdown in April. The suspension lasted four weeks, significantly impacting production at the plant in Normal, Illinois.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
