Rivian Reveals R2 and R3 Models That Will Compete With Tesla’s Model Y and Next Gen Vehicle

Rivian announced their R2, R3 and R3X vehicles

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Rivian has taken strides in unveiling its latest models, the R2, R3, and R3X. These vehicles certainly raise the bar for the company. However, when placed in the broader context of the electric vehicle sector, these advancements, while commendable, serve to highlight the relentless pace set by industry leader Tesla.

Rivian's Surprise Launch

This is not to rain on Rivian's parade. Rarely does an EV manufacturer not named Tesla rule the coverage of any given day. Rivian did show off some development during the launch of the R2 and the surprise announcement of the R3 and R3X.

Take a 360-degree tour of R2. pic.twitter.com/euyJkScRYq

— Rivian (@Rivian) March 7, 2024

The R2, positioned as a smaller, more affordable alternative to its predecessor, brings Rivian's distinctive design into a compact, efficient package. With a starting price of $45,000, over 300 miles of range, and the ability to accelerate from 0-60 MPH in under three seconds, the R2 is poised to garner some attention. The subsequent reveal of the R3 and R3X models shows that there are big plans for the future for a company that plans to build 57,000 cars in 2024.

Innovation on Display

Rivian showed off some new technology using the 4695 cylindrical battery cell and structural battery packs for increased range. The DC fast charging system works with NACS and CCS. There has also been a significant increase in autonomous driving capabilities, a new computing system, five radars, and 11 cameras. The company is delaying facility expansion, instead launching the R2 from its Illinois facility to save capital and expedite production.

That’s the good news, but the R2, with its new look, upgraded tech, and lower price, will not be available until 2026. The other two units will be available in 2027. This timing is crucial. While Rivian's new models are indeed groundbreaking, Tesla's "Redwood" project is set to introduce a vehicle at a $25,000 price point, making it highly accessible to the mass market.

Tesla's Countermove: Redwood, Van

The implications of Tesla's manufacturing efficiency and cost reduction advancements cannot be overstated. As Tesla gears up to launch its next-gen vehicle, it is likely already envisioning subsequent innovations that could further extend its lead in the EV sector. Those ideas, which are likely scribbled on Franz von Holzhausen’s notepad at this point, could very well be in development by 2027. Perhaps a highly configurable van, the obvious next step, could be created simultaneously with the other two Rivians coming out. Given the advancement learned year-over-year, a new Tesla product will likely beat Rivian’s prices.

With a production timeline that anticipates the start of manufacturing in the latter half of 2025, Tesla's next-gen vehicle is poised to hit the market around the same time Rivian's R2 begins delivery. Rivian's efforts, though significant, are part of a broader narrative dominated by Tesla's vision and execution. As the electric vehicle landscape continues to evolve, the ability to innovate at scale and meet product demand and consumer desire for affordability, range, and performance will determine the true leaders of the electric revolution. Rivian has a lot of work to do.

If you enjoy hearing about Rivian news and software features, be sure to check out our new site dedicated to Rivian.

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Tesla’s Referral Program Launches in Europe

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Following its recent launch in the United States and Canada, Tesla has launched their referral program in several European countries as well.

The program is available in Germany, Norway, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and possibly others. The program is almost the same as the one available today in North America, with rewards for each referral and a discount for those referred. The cap in Europe is also ten per year.

This program comes right on the heels of a 0% financing offer for the Model Y in Sweden and France. While referrals aren't currently available in Sweden, the 0% financing still is.

European Referrals

The European Referral program accounts for country and local currency, where applicable.

The referral reward program is comparable to the one available in North America. After exchange rates, there is only an approximately 10% difference between the available rewards in the US and EU.

Other Countries

We expect this program to start rolling out to other European countries over the next few days or weeks, as Tesla continues to expand its referral program.

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Tesla's Android App Lags Behind Apple's: The Missing Features

Maxim

Tesla has confirmed that they submit app updates for Android and iOS apps at the same time, but we often see the iOS app updates released first possibly due to a quicker app review process at Apple.

However, we often see features implemented on the Apple version weeks or months before they’re implemented on Android. Today, the Android app is missing several key features, and the gap is starting to become a bit glaring.

Delayed App Updates

The Android app just received update 4.36.6 last night, while the Apple update was available as of September 1st.

That might not seem like a big deal, but in order to use the updated Actually Smart Summon, you’ll need app version 4.36.6, so any Andriod users that received update 2024.27.20 with the new Summon, couldn’t use it until yesterday.

We’re sure Tesla is on it, but it’s disappointing to see that key feature updates take days or a week longer to receive on Android. Apple and Google both offer the ability to set a release date for an app update, so Tesla could coordinate releasing the apps at the same time.

Ultra Wideband Support

Unfortunately, there’s no Ultra Wide Band (UWB) support on Android yet, which is an interesting omission since it’s such a great feature. Most Android phones, flagships, and cheaper phones alike, all support UWB.

Without UWB support Android phones can’t use Tesla’s newest phone key, which is only available for devices that support UWB. The new phone key improves reliability for unlocking the vehicle and setting the correct Tesla driver profile. To support the new phone key, you need a compatible phone (iPhone 11 or newer) and a newer vehicle that supports ultra wideband.

Hands-Free Trunk

Tesla’s new hands-free trunk feature, which allows you to automatically open your trunk by simply standing behind it for a couple of seconds, also isn’t available on Android devices. Tesla’s Hands-Free Trunk requires UWB support too, and Tesla originally mentioned it was coming to Android in May 2024.

For now, those are the features we know of that don’t work on Android today, and we’re hoping that Tesla brings both UWB support, as well as simultaneous app updates to the Google Play and Apple App Store by leveraging each store’s publish date feature.

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