December 11: Blame Tesla!

Blame that dam upstart Tesla for the proliferation of companies planning to bring an electric vehicle to market. Why? Because for years no one had started a new car company. No, that's incorrect. Several had tried to start a new car company and failed. No one seemed to realize that once you've raised more than enough money to begin mass production, you'll need even more and then even more. Tesla, the ambitious outlier, has run into these money issues. Even after several years of selling thousands upon thousands of cars and suvs, Tesla has yet to be able to take money to the bank as opposed to taking it from the bank.

Which brings us to the latest new EV introduction at the recent LA Auto Show, the Rivian. What and who are these Rivian folks? Basically they are a tech company in Michigan employing about 600 people, which might be a tenth of what they'll need in the short term. So being ambitious and as smart (or smarter) than Tesla, Rivian showed their two new rides (supposedly) due out in a couple of years........

R1T

R1S

Learning from the pros, that a snappy and unforgettable name is not necessary, they astutely are calling their new vehicles the R1T and R1S. Give me a friggin' break. I can hear the conversation now........."So, Alexa, is that your new R1T?"........."No, it's the R1S". Let's hope they don't plan on a entire line of alphabet soup cars.

Back to these electric adventure vehicles (Rivian's description, not mine). These good looking pieces are priced in the sweet spot, so that the well off can buy them rather than a Tesla and still have cache'. Both are supposed to start around $70k USD give or take a thousand or three. Production is two years away, so we'll wait anxiously for the real prices. Often the initial figures are dope smokin' numbers.

Where else would one find an electric adventure vehicle, but frolicking off road. Off the grid, but not so far off of it, that the R1T will run out of juice.

Being electric, the pick-up doesn't need that traditional longer front end, so along with the suv, this will be for additional carrying capacity under a power operated hood (just like the tailgates). And check out that neat pass thru for your golf clubs, your cat or a body. Rivian is trying to think of everything.

Like all electrics, the Rivians are faster than an insulting Donald Trump tweet and considerably more useful. Style is always subjective, but you won't mistake the snoot of either of these Rivians for anything else on or off the road........

Different for the sake of being different? Reminds me of a toy, but hey, I'm not their clientele.

So, back to blaming Tesla. Let's make a note on our 2020 calendars to check back with Rivian to see how they are progressing. Will they still be in the hunt, or like Lucid Motors, slowly and painfully grinding to a halt in Never-Never Land?

Until next time........