Rivian Recap: 08/15/2025
Hey there,
Here's your weekly Rivian Recap for August 15th, 2025.
A custom one-off Gen2 Quad-Motor went up for auction, new details about R2, R3 and... an R2T??
Let's dive in!
R1
To start off this week, I proposed the question: Is Rivian in trouble?
With the recent changes from the "Big Beautiful Bill" there are major impacts to Rivian that change their bottom line by hundreds of millions per year.
The runway to R2 being successful and the eventual addition of R3 just shifted dramatically while sales of R1S, R1T are hitting massive headwinds.
The 1 of 1 custom R1S Quad-Motor for Pebble Beach finally went up for sale and the auction closed out at $175k.
This thing is absolutely stunning with the paint color, cork interior and more.
I'm honestly surprised it didn't go for more being such a rare, custom build.
RJ did an interview with comedian Daniel Tosh, where he was actually asked some reasonable hard questions that the rest of the media is too afraid to ask.
And yes, RJ confirms that a 3rd generation charging pad is coming.
The phone charging should no longer suck. For real this time. We promise. 😅
I feel vindicated for this post.
R2 + Beyond
According to Motortrend, Rivian is planning an R2T after all.
Would you be interested in a smaller/cheaper truck than the R1T?
And will it compete with Ford's planned "30k truck" in 2027?
As a follow-up to the steer-by-wire from last week, there are now job postings talking about four wheel steering. This feels like a natural extension of steer-by-wire and the future of these long-wheel base EV's to improve handling and parking maneuvers.
The Georgia plant groundbreaking is officially scheduled for next month.
Given the recent headwinds around cashflow for Rivian, the quicker they can get Georgia up and running for R3 and increased R2 production, the better off they will be so this can't come soon enough.
A patent for the R2 rear windows shows not only an opening version but also one where the window fully pops out?
Could the removable roof Rivian finally come true someday?
Autonomy
Chris has been on a tear with sleuthing through job postings from Rivian, and several of them are around Autonomy.
First, we have "parking and other low speed maneuvers".
People who are coming from smaller vehicles are often surprised how much harder it is to park an R1, but even the R2 will be harder than gas drivers are used to with the much longer wheelbase as is common with EV's.
Next, it looks like my suspicion that Rivian is very interested in LiDAR has more smoke to the fire.
The big question is, when will see LiDAR shipping on a Rivian vehicle? 2027?
And lastly, the early notes for the next software version 2025.26 has many points about improved attributes for Gen2 autonomy.
We are going slower than I care for, but there has been a clear trajectory of improved performance with seemingly no regressions.
I personally can't wait for lane centering to work essentially everywhere the car can clearly see lane lines and for hands-free to be ubiquitous.
Community
This week I have a question for the community about this newsletter in general.
Since its inception it has been the "Rivian Recap", but I feel like we are about to enter a really interesting time for EV's, autonomy, and renewable energy.
Despite the changes in US policy, there are some exciting technologies right around the horizon (videos about these coming soon!).
How do you feel about moving this newsletter to a more general EV/clean-energy focused newsletter?
Rivian will always have my heart and be a recurring set of headlines as they are one of the more interesting stories in the space... but I'm thinking I can do more to bring you the pulse on what's new for the broader industry.
Things like emerging battery technologies, approaches to self-driving and in-car AI experience, solar, grid storage and more.
Would that continue to appeal to you? Hit reply and let me know.
Latest Deals
Last week we had new offers, and those have changed yet again.
We now get an extension of the "Endless Adventure Bonus" to include 2026 Dual Max Performance trims, which shake up the value configs.
(Plus there's the "road trip package" offer for accessories.. nice!)
Here are the supported builds with offers + my recommended upgrades on audio, tonneau, etc.
2026 Dual-Max Performance
- 2026 Dual-Max Performance R1S
- 2026 Dual-Max Performance R1T
2025-2026 Dual-Standard (an excellent entry value)
I would highly encourage everyone to lease so you can claim the incentive, even if you plan to buy out immediately.
Here's my video about lease vs buy to help better understand the numbers.
I hope enjoyed the this weeks edition of the Rivian Recap. Let me know what you'd like to see more of in future editions!
Even if you just want to say hi, hit reply – I'd love to get to know you 👋
Stay curious ✌️,
Travis Ketchum
P.S. Thinking about buying a new Rivian?
Make sure you use a referral code. A friend, a neighbor, or someone who has helped you along the way.
Here's mine: TRAVIS4699411