Rivian Recap: 11/14/2025

Let's dive in!

R1

With the R2 launch fast approaching, some may be wondering "Should I wait for R2, or grab one of these incentivized R1S deals"?

There are multiple things about the two vehicles to consider, but the answer may not be as obvious as you might think.

Rivian R2 or Gen2 R1S? Don't make a mistake!

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Thinking out loud: We were spoiled with the California Dune Edition earlier this year and were promised "other special editions".

Could we be due for a special edition anytime soon?

I'll be sad if that beautiful Dune interior, particularly that non-carpet flooring material, never makes it to another production Rivian.

Personally, I think the Dune interior would've been absolutely aces on the Launch Edition Quad paired with that Launch Green color.

R2 + Beyond

The VW partnership with Rivian may pan out in unexpected ways.

Specifically, that VW has interest in putting the zonal architecture into traditional ICE models across their various brands.

While the primary path forward is using the tech in other EV's such as Scout, Audi and more... I can understand VW wanting to put all their platforms on a cost saving diet that is also capable of OTA updates.

I guess time will tell if this really comes to pass, but for now the joint venture seems focused on passing the extreme weather testing where R2 is getting a workout in both Alaska as well as Moab, Utah.

The Alaska cold weather testing seems to be a key component to Rivian unlocking the next big chunk of money out of the JV.

But the Moab testing in particular caught my eye because that is where I had one of the worst charging experiences of my road trip this summer.

All recorded thanks to the Rivian Roamer+ charging tracker.

Autonomy

As we sprint towards that December 11th AI & Autonomy Day, RJ and Rivian seem increasingly willing to share more info about just how rapidly things are moving on that front.

In a new Fireside Chat with RJ, we learned some new tidbits about how far Rivian has come already. Including a 2-hour hands-off session around the greater Palo Alto area on production Gen2 hardware.

Here are some of my collected thoughts about the standout things we learned from RJ, and how Rivian may be a top contender in autonomy far quicker than everyone else thinks based on the production features today.

Of particular note is the speed in which things are improving, but also that we are likely to see driver profiles (similar to Tesla) plus the option down the road for the car to learn our unique behaviors.

People seem to either love or hate FSD, and it sure seems like a big piece of that is perceived comfort. If the car drove more like you, it would instantly feel more comfortable even if safety is essentially equal.

There's also a funny bit about the model having to fight the urge to drive like Rivian drivers who punch it off the line much of the time 😂

Community

A few more community events from local clubs scheduled for the coming week:

11/15 San Diego Club - SDRC Brewery Meetup

11/22 Florida Rivian Club - Q4 Meetup x Food Donation Drive

Hopefully you can get out there to one of your local events if you haven't already. The people are what make this community special.

Latest Deals

Mostly the same offers as last week BUT a new offer just dropped today making that improved Dual-Standard Lease incentive even better.

You can how get $5,000 in lease cash towards any dual-standard.

This makes what was already the best value Rivian, an even better deal.

Here's the bottom line for offers overall..

All 2025's are 1.99% financing, but their lease rates are often worse than the newer model year (dumb).

For 2026's, you can get 1.99% financing for the performance upgraded duals (large and max), or the upper-end tri and quad motors.

Must place your order by November 30th.

My suggestion remain the same as it was during recent 1-year review.

I'd go with a 2026 model year, and lease either a dual-standard (with premium audio upgrade) with $5k lease cash:

2026 R1S dual-standard (with premium audio)

2026 R1T dual-standard (with premium audio, tonneau, utility panel)

OR, I'd go up to a 2026 tri-motor for the improved driving dynamics.

2026 R1S tri-motor

2026 R1T tri-motor

Grab either of those on a lease, and snag the extra $2k when you trade-in. 

Plus get either 100 gear shop credits for dual-standard, 250 for dual-large/max or 500 points with a tri/quad-motor variants when you use a referral.

All referrals also get 3 months of free charging on the Rivian Adventure Network, which would be handy with holiday travel.

I hope enjoyed 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