Shār ’s Post

What a fantastic evening at the business mixer organized by the Burnaby Board of Trade and hosted by Rivian! For those who might not be familiar, Rivian is a California-based electric vehicle company that's redefining adventure with their rugged yet city-friendly Electric Adventure Vehicles. Think SUVs and pickup trucks that are as comfortable navigating city streets as they are tackling challenging terrains. The timing couldn’t have been better, especially with the recent buzz around Rivian. Governor Gavin Newsom recently highlighted a surge in Rivian's sales in California, a stark contrast to Tesla’s recent dip. And let’s not forget last month’s big news: Volkswagen’s announcement of a whopping $5 billion investment in Rivian, focusing on software development; a partnership that promises great things for both companies. A huge thank you to Rivian for being such gracious hosts in their stunning offices and first Canadian showroom. And of course, a shoutout to the Burnaby Board of Trade for bringing together such an inspiring group of entrepreneurs. Looking forward to the next one! #ElectricVehicles #Innovation #Rivian #SoftwareDevelopment #GilaSoftware

🚗 When Dreams Hit the Road: A Rivian Story 🛣️ Remember that feeling when you first rode a bike without training wheels? That's how I felt two years ago when I saw my first Rivian truck on the highway. As a field application engineer deeply involved in automotive Ethernet's widespread adoption, Rivian was one of my first major projects. Our team, including the brilliant Anthony R. Giesey, in business development, worked tirelessly to revolutionize an entire automotive architecture. Seeing that white Rivian cruising down the road wasn't just a sight—it was a career milestone. It represented years of problem-solving, innovation, and teamwork, all packaged into a sleek, electric powerhouse. This moment crystallized why I chose engineering: to transform abstract concepts into tangible realities that shape our world. It's not just about the tech specs; it's about creating solutions that drive us forward (pun intended!). To my fellow engineers: What's your "Rivian moment"? When did you first see your work make a real-world impact? Let's celebrate these victories—they're the fuel that keeps our innovation engines running! #AutomotiveInnovation #EngineeringImpact #Rivian

🔮 Making a prediction: Rivian's decision to cut costs by laying off 10% of its salaried workforce is a strategic move that will have a ripple effect on the future of the company: 🚗 Introducing the R2 might face delays, but the market for affordable EVs is still promising, and Rivian can bounce back stronger. 🔌 With mounting pressure in the electric vehicle market, Rivian must stay agile and innovative to maintain its competitive edge. 💡 Conclusion: This setback is a temporary challenge that Rivian can overcome through resilience and adaptation. Exciting times lie ahead for the electric vehicle industry and Rivian's role in shaping it.

In the ever-shifting landscape of the #EV industry, we're reminded of the personal impacts behind business decisions. The recent news of workforce reductions at Rivian, alongside Lucid Motors production forecast, underscores the challenges faced by many in the sector. My thoughts go out to those affected by these changes, and I'm hopeful for the resilience and adaptability of the talented individuals within this #innovative industry. #EVCommunity #electricvehicles

🚨 Rivian Announces Workforce Cut Amidst Challenges 🚗 Electric car maker to lay off 10% after facing a $1.5 billion loss in Q4 2023. Key details: 📉 Facing Headwinds: Rivian cites a challenging macroeconomic environment, high interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainty for the layoffs. 💼 Strategic Changes: Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe emphasizes the need to prioritize growth areas, including the launch of Peregrine and R2, and enhancing go-to-market capabilities. 🏭 Factory Closure: To cut costs, Rivian will shutter an Illinois factory mid-year and upgrade manufacturing lines for a 30% production rate boost. 📅 Upcoming Launch: Rivian set to unveil the R2, a compact SUV in the $40,000 to $60,000 range, on March 7. Deliveries expected in 2026. 💪 Promising Future: Despite challenges, Rivian remains focused on long-term growth and innovation in the electric vehicle sector. #Rivian #ElectricVehicles #WorkforceCut #BusinessNews #AutoIndustry #EconomicChallenges #InnovationInEV #RivianR2 #Sustainability #TechUpdate

Rivian and Similar EV Makers Boost Hiring and Production in Anticipation of Electric Vehicle Surge, Yet Face Backlash for Pricing Beyond Average American's Reach – Concerns Arise Over Sustainable Business Practices and Market Impact. The only lovers are the employees. https://lnkd.in/eehDVQiW #rivian #ev #electriccars #EVMarketDynamics #sustainableautofuture #rivianinsight #affordableEVs

I completely disagree with the perspective that Rivian is in crisis mode, and I think Rivian is much stronger than it appears. Here's why: Rivian took a technology org approach, more similar to Tesla's playbook than legacy auto's approach. As such, when money (credit) was cheap, they over-hired, including Engineering and Customer Experience roles aka fat-to-trim. In addition, Tesla let go ~9% of its workforce when attempting to launch the Model 3 to "reach profitability". Further still, this doesn't consider the 6 figure volume job losses in the rest of the non-automotive tech sector, with Engineering, PM's and Customer-centric losses in fintech, social giants etc over ~24 months or so from similar industry wide over-hiring. There is no "crisis mode", especially when considering Rivian's current inflection point. They are about to change over from startup to scale-up. This serves two primary functions - same as Tesla did with the Model 3. 1. With projected scale, Rivian can now successfully renegotiate supplier contracts that are currently drowning them eg. ~$40k loss per *niche* vehicle manufactured. 2. Start to vertically integrate through acquisition, reducing costs to manufacture further. Arguably, one of the few mistakes Rivian made was attempting to develop their own battery cell technology during the early seed startup phases. Even Tesla is realizing that with its own battery cell technology, it still needs 3rd party suppliers to manufacture quantities needed at scale. There are so many other components Rivian can vertically integrate and streamline at this stage. Rivian is also negotiating with government partners in IL and GA to free up capital over the next few years to ensure the AMAZING 🤩 R2 can launch successfully. Lastly, Rivian is backed by incredibly stable investors such as Amazon, and has in-house patents, technologies and brand appeal to leverage in a future buyout (Apple? GEELY [JLR]?). Conversely, Fisker truly is an example of a fledgling automaker in crisis mode, with a projected run ramp not lasting another 12 months, no stable financier, absent brand appeal and many of its core EV technologies purchased off the shelf from Magna International, rather than internally developed. While Dan Rolle and I both love Rivian, we disagree on the context of the data. In my humble opinion, he viewed the data through a micro-environment lens, while I'm viewing it within a macro-environment lens. *Disclaimer: At the time of this writing, I do not own any Rivian stock and my thoughts are my own opinions, not to be considered financial advice lol 😂

Disappointed with My Rivian R1S Experience I’ve always believed in supporting innovation, especially from companies driving the shift toward sustainable transportation, which is why I invested in a Rivian R1S. Unfortunately, my recent experience has been nothing short of frustrating, and I feel compelled to share it. A few days ago, my vehicle suddenly became non-responsive—completely dead. I can’t access the vehicle, let alone drive it. I reached out to Rivian support immediately, but the response has been underwhelming, to say the least. The support team seems indifferent, repeatedly saying, “It will be fixed tomorrow,” and here I am, 4 days later, with no resolution in sight. I expected more from Rivian, especially given the premium price tag and brand ethos. I understand that issues can arise, but what matters most is how they are handled. I urge Rivian to improve their customer service and take ownership of these situations. Prompt communication, empathy, and timely resolutions should be the norm—not the exception. I hope this post encourages Rivian to take swift action, not only in my case but for others who may be facing similar challenges. I still believe in the potential of the brand, but trust needs to be earned and maintained. #CustomerExperience #Rivian #RivianR1S #ElectricVehicles Rivian

Rivian, the electric carmaker, is facing challenges as it plans to cut 10% of its salaried workforce due to slowing EV demand. Despite doubling EV deliveries in 2023, the company reported a $5.4 billion profit loss for the year. The 2024 production is expected to fall short of analysts' expectations. This decision reflects the economic uncertainty and changing consumer preferences in the EV market. Rivian aims to prioritize growth areas and invest in new launches. The company is also offering support to impacted employees through the separation process. #Rivian #ElectricVehicles #WorkforceReduction #EVMarketChallenges

How Rivian became an automotive success story. Currently valued at 27 billion… Founded in 2009, they began as a startup focusing on electric adventure vehicles. By 2021, their IPO was the largest worldwide and the 12th largest in history. After securing investments with two large public companies… Rivian took an order to fulfill 100,000 electric delivery vans for Amazon – one of the single largest orders for commercial EVs ever placed. So, what contributes to their success? → A philanthropic mission to address the planet’s climate crisis. → Speaking directly to customers about our planet’s long-term survival. → Unique design and dedication to legacy. → A strong tagline, “Vehicles made for the planet.” → Building their vehicles for eco-conscious people and companies. → Having an uncompromised stance on quality. Along with great design, Rivian invited individuals to help build their mission. They spoke directly to the customers and businesses who would most likely drive their vehicles. Want to learn more? Follow us for more automotive data and insights. #dataanalysis #automotivedata #automotive #data #business #sales