RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian, shares insights on the company's journey from concept to the successful launch of the R1T pickup in 2021. He discusses the challenges of ramping up production to meet soaring demand and the strategic partnership with Amazon for electric delivery vans. Scaringe also touches on the evolving automotive landscape, including subscription services and the competition with the Cybertruck. Additionally, he highlights the importance of transitioning to renewable energy and the complexities of sustainable battery production.
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insights INSIGHT
Rivian's Focus
RJ Scaringe says Rivian is focused on scaling production and building its brand.
They closely monitor labor issues but prioritize meeting the high demand for their vehicles.
insights INSIGHT
Customer Demand
Rivian's biggest customer complaint is the long wait times for their vehicles.
The high demand is a good problem, but they are working hard to increase production and reduce wait times.
insights INSIGHT
EV Adoption
Almost every car buyer now considers EVs, a significant shift from when RJ Scaringe started Rivian in 2009.
The widespread adoption of EVs is inevitable and will drastically impact the automotive industry and the environment.
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The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
Katy Milkman
In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.
We’ve got another interview from the Code Conference today. My friend and co-host, CNBC’s Julia Boorstin, and I had a chance to talk with Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe. Rivian is a newer company — RJ started it in 2009, and it took more than 10 years to start shipping cars to consumers. But its first vehicle, the R1T pickup, made a big splash when it arrived in 2021, and the company has more back orders for both the R1T and its second vehicle, the R1S SUV, than it can handle. For now.
We asked RJ about that production ramp and whether Rivian can meet demand, and whether it’s just early adopters buying EVs or if they’ve finally gone mainstream. The conversation also touched on Rivian’s deal with Amazon and the auto industry’s push toward subscription features. And, of course, I had to ask Scaringe about the Cybertruck. How could I resist?!
Decoder with Nilay Patel 
