When you consider the risk of doing business, it doesn’t get much bigger than starting a car company: competition is formidable, startup costs are in the billions, and very few people believe you can pull it off. That’s the massive challenge RJ Scaringe walked into in 2009, when he launched his truck and SUV company, Rivian. To add to the risk, RJ wanted to build fully electric vehicles while attracting drivers who’d never bought them, so he knew his trucks had to be fun and sporty: appealing in their own right. Rivian’s journey has taken RJ from an old warehouse in Florida to a massive Midwestern car manufacturing plant; and from years of stealth planning to months of anticipatory buzz from buyers and the industry. Rivian rolled its first trucks off the line in 2021, and is hustling to fulfill tens of thousands of vehicle reservations from excited customers. There have been pivots, sleepless nights, and, of course, multiple supply chain issues, but today, Rivian is valued at $30 billion and is a major player in the electric vehicle industry.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe discusses the $5 billion joint venture with Volkswagen, new models like R2 and R3, technological advancements in EVs, factory expansion decisions, and market strategies for positioning Rivian vehicles as premium adventure cars.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe discusses the production ramp of their R1T pickup, the adoption of EVs by mainstream consumers, Rivian's partnership with Amazon for electric delivery vans, integration of subscription features in cars, and thoughts on the Cybertruck.

RJ Scaringe, CEO and founder of Rivian, shares his journey of revolutionizing the automotive industry by making all cars electric. He candidly discusses the pressure of rapid growth, navigating the complexities of supply chains, and the monumental partnership with Volkswagen. Scaringe tackles skepticism around electric vehicles and highlights the impressive brand recognition Rivian has achieved. He also emphasizes the mental resilience needed for entrepreneurship, balancing innovation with financial realities, and the personal commitment to sustainability.

RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian, discusses the high demand for Rivian's electric vehicles, their plans to ramp up production and release a new mid-size SUV in 2026. They also talk about the challenges in the EV market, expanding the charging infrastructure, inspiring adventures with Rivian, and the importance of making carbon neutrality exciting for widespread adoption.