Rivian Just Eliminated Its Most Affordable Vehicles
Rivian is eliminating its most affordable trim level for its R1T and R1S electric vehicles.
If you
wanted to buy
a Rivian electric truck or SUV, you might have waited a little too long to jump at the opportunity to buy the most affordable
models.According to
Green Car Reports
, Rivian has stopped offering the least expensive trims of its R1S electric SUV and R1T electric pickup. That means if you want a new Rivian, you'll have to shell out around $6,000 more for the new base models.Price hike
GCR reports that Rivian sent an email to its preorder holders saying it was canceling the base Explore package, which started at $68,575 for its pickup and $73,575 for its SUV.
That means these less expensive trim levels are no longer available to existing reservation holders as well as new purchases.
Rivian has told its customers they can either cancel their orders for the Explore package for a refund or upgrade to the Adventure package, which starts at $74,075 and $79,075 for the R1T and R1S, respectively.
The company asked preorder holders who ordered the Ocean Coast interior package to accept an updated version of the trim, this time featuring dark-stained wood. Customers have until Sept. 1 to change or cancel their preorders.
Why is Rivian canceling the more affordable options?
Rivian told customers in the email that it was canceling the more affordable Explore package due to low demand.
"To date, only a small percentage of customers have chosen this configuration, with the vast majority selecting the Adventure trim," according to Rivian's email.
"By focusing on the Adventure trim package, we’re able to streamline our supply chain and ultimately deliver vehicles more quickly."
Rivian told GCR that it wouldn't say anything further about the exact percentage of Explorer package preorders.
Not the first time
If you thought this was new territory for Rivian, you'd be wrong.
Rivian
has previously hiked prices—about $12,000—for its preorder holders. Unsurprisingly it faced some serious backlash from its customers and gave its reservation holders their original price.While GCR notes that reservations keep coming for the new R1T—well-received by customers and media alike—the company's outlook hasn't been as sunny. Rivian laid off 6 percent of its employees in July after recording a $1.7 billion loss in the second quarter of 2022.
Despite this, the automaker still has
ambitions
for growth, with a second factory in the works in Georgia to produce a new line of electric vehicles, the R2 line.Save money where you can
If you want any kind of Rivian, you're going to have to pay a little more than before. If you're dead-set on one, though, you should try saving money elsewhere—particularly on your car insurance.
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