Update: It’s the weekend, which means time to sharpen our digital pencils and let the imagination run a little wild. We’ve put together a rendering of the next-generation 2028 A4 e-tron, offering a glimpse at how Audi’s design playbook could evolve, shaped by recent remarks from the brand’s CEO.

Borrowing design cues from the latest Concept C and the A5, our rendering imagines a clean, minimalist sedan that ties the classic A4 proportions to Audi’s next generation EV identity. Of course, the final design could take a different turn, particularly in the profile or rear styling, but until test prototypes hit public roads, this remains our most grounded prediction. The original story continues below.

BMW and Mercedes are preparing to roll out electric takes on their best-selling 3-Series and C-Class, known respectively as the i3 and C-Class EQ Tech models. That leaves Audi in an unusual position, with a lineup already heavy in electric crossovers and soon to expand even further with the Q2, yet still lacking an affordable electric sedan.

And as history has shown, when one German premium automaker changes course, the others quickly follow, sparking another round of competition on the autobahn.

More: Audi’s Concept C Previews A Porsche-Linked Sports Car Coming Sooner Than You Think

That’s expected to happen in 2028 with the debut of the all-new A4 e-tron. Besides reviving the classic name, the electric sedan will reportedly bring a new platform and a sharper design influenced by the Concept C, distinguishing it from the more conservatively styled ICE-powered A5 that replaced the previous A4 in the lineup.

VW Underpinnings and Rivian Tech

According to Autocar, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner confirmed the A4 e-tron will ride on the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), which will also be used on several other Volkswagen Group vehicles. These are said to include the next-generation Golf as well as the Skoda Octavia and Cupra’s flagship crossover.

While little is known about the platform, it should be more advanced than the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture that underpins the Porsche Macan Electric as well as the A6 and Q6 e-trons.

Also: Audi Backtracks On Odd-Even Naming Plan For ICE And EVs

The A4 e-tron could also become the first Audi to use software developed in partnership with Rivian. This is supposed to pave the way for “software-defined vehicles” that become “more intelligent, more sustainable, and more enjoyable over time.”

Döllner told the publication, “We are heavily working on it with the Rivian-Volkswagen joint venture, building up mules right now and working intensively together, so the first cars are already on their way.” He suggested the software will debut in two new vehicles and help to reduce complexity.

More: Mercedes Previews C-Class EV With A Face That’s Bound To Start Fights

Beyond the technical overhaul, the A4 e-tron will adopt the new ‘Audi brand face.’ This means we can expect a minimalist front fascia that features a rectangular grille with a portrait orientation. It will likely be flanked by slender four-element headlights, as Audi has previously said they’ll define their visual identity.

Little else is known about the car at this point, but Döllner suggested we can expect “less virtual buttons” and more dedicated switchgear. As he noted, that’s what customers prefer, and it’s hard to argue with that.

Sources: Autocar

Many drivers see seamless smartphone integration as essential, but Rivian continues to stand firm on its decision to skip Apple CarPlay on its EVs. The company believes its own infotainment platform can deliver a more cohesive, personalized experience through key app integrations.

It’s not alone in this stance, with Tesla and GM taking similar positions, yet Rivian’s choice remains a point of debate among some customers.

Read: Rivian EVs Just Got Smarter But Apple Users Won’t Be Happy About It

According to Rivian’s chief executive RJ Scaringe, switching between CarPlay or Android Auto and the company’s built-in interface just doesn’t make sense for the experience they want to offer.

As standard, Rivian’s infotainment is based on the Android Automotive operating system, supporting major apps such as YouTube, Spotify, and, since last year, Apple Music.

One System to Rule Them All

“We’ve made the decision, which I’m very confident about, that in the fullness of time, customers will appreciate, which is that we wanted to have a seamless digital experience,” Scaringe said while recently speaking with The Verge.

“To not have the need to jump between CarPlay, which feels obviously like CarPlay, and so it feels the same in every car, and then what we create as a Rivian environment,” he added.

Over the next 18 months, Rivian plans to roll out several updates to its native infotainment setup, each designed to deliver what Scaringe calls a “richer, better experience for you as a driver or occupant of the vehicle.”

These new features will involve connecting different applications, providing “knowledge of ‘what’s the vehicle’s state?’, knowledge of ‘is it in drive, or is it parked? What are the conditions outside the vehicle? What’s your driving history?”

In time, Rivian says that everything a CarPlay user likes using, such as mapping or voice-to-text features, will be added to its own system.

Standing by the Decision

“We’re really convicted on this,” Scaringe said. “For some folks, that means they’re not going to buy a Rivian. We accept that. It’s a decision.” He explained that developing a vehicle involves countless choices, many of which won’t please everyone, but all contribute to the brand’s distinct identity.

“I say this all the time: part of building a product as complex as this is recognizing and being okay with the fact that we have to make a ton of decisions, like the products, like a vehicle has many millions of decisions together. Some of those decisions, not everyone’s going to agree with, and that’s okay.”

When asked about which additional Apple-related features might arrive in future updates, Scaringe mentioned that “messaging” and “vehicle access” access functions are already in development

Rivian has once again trimmed its delivery outlook for the year, now projecting it will finish 2025 with between 41,500 and 43,500 vehicles handed over to customers. Earlier forecasts had painted a more optimistic picture. In May, Rivian suggested it would finish 2025 with between 40,000 and 46,000 deliveries, which was itself a downward revision from an even earlier target of roughly 51,000 vehicles.

Read: Rivian Offers Owners Cash To Sign Away Their Legal Rights

To put these figures into perspective, Rivian sold a total of 50,100 vehicles in 2023 and 51,579 in 2024. While the electric car manufacturer would have inevitably hoped to see sales continue to grow throughout 2025, that hasn’t been the case.

Mixed Numbers

The revision arrives even after Rivian recorded its best sales quarter of the year. Still, the annual forecast hints that appetite for the R1T pickup and R1S SUV may be tapering off, a concern that pushed the company’s stock down nearly 10 percent.

During the past quarter, Rivian delivered a total of 13,201 vehicles and produced 10,720 at its facility in Normal, Illinois. That’s an increase of nearly 32 percent in third-quarter (Q3) deliveries, a surge driven in part by U.S. buyers hurrying to lock in tax credits, even through leasing, before they expired on Tuesday.

Rivian’s Big Hope

Rivian’s long-awaited mid-size R2 cannot come soon enough. It’s been in the works for a couple of years now and is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2026. It will initially be built at an expanded line at the company’s plant in Normal, Illinois, before moving to Rivian’s forthcoming multi-billion-dollar facility in Georgia.

During a recent interview with InsideEVs, Rivian Chief Executive RJ Scaringe noted that while a large car manufacturer like Chevrolet or Volkswagen could absorb the costs of a new model that does not prove popular upon launch, Rivian does not have the same luxury.

“For a big company that has lots of other products, you can absorb that not going well, and the business will be fine,” he said. “For a Rivian, it must go well.” Prices for the R2 will start at approximately $45,000, significantly undercutting the R1-series models that start at over $70,000.

The next few years will be make-or-break for Rivian, a brand still trying to prove it deserves a permanent seat at the EV table. For now, its line-up is limited to two models, the R1S SUV and the R1T pickup, both confined to North America. Sales and production have stumbled rather than soared, and momentum has been hard to come by.

To inject some life into the portfolio, Rivian plans to launch the smaller and more affordable R2 in the first half of 2026. This SUV is being positioned as both a volume-builder and the company’s ticket to international relevance.

Read: Rivian’s R2 Spotted With A Very Interesting Rear Window

Rivian has been planning to grow beyond North America for quite some time, and according to boss RJ Scaringe, it’ll first expand into Europe after the R2’s American launch. The UK, is one of the markets being targeted by the brand, although Scaringe didn’t provide any indication as to exactly when we can expect to see his company’s EVs on the other side of the Atlantic.

A Different Kind of Entry-Level

While recently speaking with Autocar on the sidelines of the Munich motor show, Scaringe described Rivian’s upcoming models as “highly aspirational but highly attainable,” noting that the two qualities rarely align. “Often, when you see the price go down, you see the desirability drop off. But this is what makes our R2 and R3 so interesting: they’re inviting and attainable in their pricing, but they still feel very special,” he said.

It’s likely that the smaller and cheaper R3 will follow in the footsteps of the R2 and will also be sold globally. Moreover, a European launch for Rivian means it will have to start building vehicles in right-hand drive, which will require significant alterations to be made to its factory tooling.

The Numbers That Matter

In the US, the R2 is expected to start at around $45,000, will utilize Rivian’s new midsize platform, and should be available in single-, dual-, and tri-motor configurations. A European price tag of between €40,000 and €50,000 is to be expected for the R2, with the R3 undercutting it slightly.

Rivian has also confirmed where the cars will be built. Production of the R2 will be split between a forthcoming multi-billion-dollar facility in Georgia and an expanded line at its existing plant in Normal, Illinois

More than 17,000 of Rivian’s all-electric delivery vans are under the watchful eye of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration due to potential failures of the driver’s seat belt anchorage system. According to the agency, drivers could be left without any kind of functional restraint in the event of a crash, which obviously poses a significant safety risk.

The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has received six Vehicle Owner Questionnaires that state the seat belt anchorage system can fail. These questionnaires “describe multiple instances in which the seat belt steel braided cable frays, breaks and/or unravels, leaving the occupants unrestrained in the event of a collision.”

Read: Rivian Offers Owners Cash To Sign Away Their Legal Rights

It’s also noted that a frayed cable can weaken the seat belt load capacity. In the event of a collision, the NHTSA says a faulty seat belt system “presents an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.”

A total of 17,198 examples of 2022 and 2023 model year Rivian EDVs will be investigated. The ODI says it will “focus on the integrity of the seat belt assembly, installation method, and potential design/manufacturing changes and deficiencies.” The investigation will also allow it to understand the frequency and severity of the alleged fault.

So far, the NHTSA is not aware of any injuries or fatalities caused by a failure of Rivian’s seat belt anchorage system.

The Rivian EDV is sold in three different wheelbase options and load capacities. It was initially built exclusively for Amazon after the retail giant placed an order for 100,000 vehicles, which will be delivered gradually until 2030. As of November 2023, the electric van has become available to other companies as well, where it is marketed as the ECV.

Rivian’s on-again, off-again Georgia plant is back in motion as the company held a groundbreaking ceremony in Social Circle. However, it was little more than a dog and pony show as construction isn’t expected to begin until 2026.

The money-losing EV company said surprisingly little about the facility, but noted the plant will be built in two phases with each providing 200,000 units of annual production capacity. That’s a combined total of 400,000 units and these vehicles will be sold domestically and internationally.

What Gets Built Here?

Production plans center on the upcoming R2 and R3. Rivian expects the first vehicles from the Georgia facility to appear in 2028, about two years after R2 manufacturing starts in Normal, Illinois.

More: Rivian R2 Prototype Spied With A Very Interesting Rear Window

The facility is expected to span approximately nine million square feet and it will be located on nearly 2,000 acres of land. Interestingly, Rivian envisions the site will have “recreational trails for employees and customers” as well as a “Rivian experience trail.”

Jobs and Promises

Since Rivian was granted a $6.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy in the waning days of the Biden Administration, it comes as little surprise that stakeholders – including Georgia Republicans – promised thousands of new jobs.

These are said to include 2,000 construction jobs and 7,500 plant jobs by 2030. Nearly 8,000 indirect jobs are also expected and Rivian said all these new openings could “generate over $1 billion in labor income annually – supporting suppliers, vendors and small businesses in the local Jasper, Morgan, Newton and Walton Counties and the surrounding region.”

While only time will tell if the plant lives up to expectations, it’s another feather in Georgia’s electric vehicle cap. As we’ve previously reported, the Peach State is also home to Hyundai’s Metaplant, which builds the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9.

In a statement, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said “We are cementing Rivian’s future at our Georgia plant, helping ensure America maintains its technology leadership and excellence in automobile manufacturing.” He added, “Our Georgia facility will support our global expansion and provide the scale necessary to get millions of future drivers in our incredible all-electric vehicles, both in the United States and overseas.”

The automotive industry never stops changing, but 2025 has been unlike most as Donald Trump’s policies have changed the way automakers are doing business. The elimination of federal tax credits for electric vehicles is a major move on its own. Paired with the removal of penalties for missing fuel economy targets under CAFE regulations, the result is a playing field with entirely new rules.

The immediate winners are the combustion-heavy brands that can now focus on selling trucks and SUVs without financial punishment. On the other side, Tesla, Rivian, and other EV specialists stand to lose billions, not because demand for their cars will collapse, but because a critical source of revenue has been pulled out from under them. At the center of the storm is an Environmental Protection Agency that appears to be working against the mission printed on its own website.

Cash Flow Reversal

Since 2022, GM has spent some $3.5 billion buying regulatory credits, says Bloomberg. Ford and Stellantis have spent billions as well. That cash went to brands like Tesla and Rivian, which had plenty of credits to sell since their cars emit zero emissions. With the end of EV tax credits and CAFE fines for breaking regulations, Ford, GM and Stellantis can pour the money they would’ve spent on credits back into their own piggy bank.

Read: Millions Hate This Fuel Saving Tech So EPA Wants To Get Rid Of It

Ford CEO Jim Farley said the policy shift has the “potential to unlock a multibillion-dollar opportunity,” noting that the Blue Oval is already retooling its Oakville, Ontario, plant to build Super Duty pickups instead of EVs.

GM is also cutting back on EV production, opting to overhaul factories for gasoline-fueled models. Stellantis, meanwhile, has gone so far as to revive the thirsty Hemi V8 engine, something previously thought dead in the age of electrification. With all of these changes, death might now be coming for some EV brands.

Trouble Ahead For EV Startups

Not only does the end of tax credits make purchasing an EV less palatable for many, but it also means that brands which used to benefit from selling tax credits now need to readjust to the new reality. Smaller brands, though, might be in big trouble. For example, Slate’s trucklet looks almost pointless with a starting price near $30,000 as the EV tax credit was vital to its success.

Even larger brands like Tesla and Rivian have leaned on the pure profit they’ve gained by selling regulatory credits. That money likely won’t be coming back anytime soon and that’s because the EPA seems willing to do just about anything the Trump Administration deems reasonable.

A Mission Ignored

It states plainly that its mission is “to protect human health and the environment.” Love them or hate them, electric vehicles are probably better at that than combustion cars. In fact, the EPA itself has an entire page dedicated to debunking the myths so many like to perpetuate surrounding them.

Things like “EVs are worse for the climate than gas cars,” “EVs are unreliable,” and “EVs will collapse the power grid.” Furthermore, J.D. Power is one of many sources that indicate that when all costs are considered, EVs are cheaper to buy, maintain, and own long-term when compared to combustion cars.

No one argues that people should be forced into one type of car. Choice matters. The government shouldn’t force anyone into a specific car or truck. But supporting policies that improve human health and the environment is what the EPA literally says it’s supposed to do.

By supporting Trump’s rollback of strict fuel economy standards and regulations, the agency is doing the exact opposite of its own mission statement. It’s clearing the way for automakers to build more polluting vehicles, burn more fuel, and erase billions in total consumer savings. If the EPA won’t uphold its own mission, it seems that nobody will. 

Credit: Ford / GM / Slate / EPA

When firefighter Max Walsh saw smoke rising in the distance, he figured he was sprinting toward yet another car fire. As a firefighter, he’d seen plenty of them, but this time, he was actually headed into a nightmare. The Tesla Model Y engulfed in flames after a crash didn’t have damage to its door latch, but it wouldn’t open anyway. The dead electrical system meant that even the conscious passenger in the front seat couldn’t unlock the doors.

The quirks of Tesla’s flush handles, and the risks when they fail, have been examined in detail by Bloomberg journalist Dana Hull, who reported extensively on how the design can turn dangerous when the car loses power.

Tesla didn’t pioneer flush, power-operated door handles, but it certainly helped them push into the mainstream. EV automakers often tout that they look better and reduce drag and the design has spread across the market from the Ford Mustang Mach-E to the new Nissan Leaf and the Kia EV6. The tricky bit is that when the low-voltage battery dies, whether it’s because of a crash, a fire, or something else, the electric door poppers die too.

Read: How To Get Out Of A Tesla If It Loses Power And You Become Trapped Inside

Carscoops has brought you countless examples of this issue across several different brands. Something kills the power to the car in question, and it leaves occupants, owners, and sometimes rescue workers scrambling to get the doors open. In multiple crashes, from a deadly Cybertruck fire in California to a Model S blaze in Wisconsin, victims have allegedly been unable to escape. Again, the real kicker is that Tesla isn’t alone in this issue.

Not Just A Tesla Problem

Ford recently recalled the Mustang Mach-E for handle-related defects, and we’ve reported several cases of owners getting locked out, or in some cases locked in, because of dead batteries. Fisker faced a similar issue with the Ocean before going belly up. A woman in a Rivian R1S called 911 and was ‘stuck’ in her SUV for 45 minutes when it bricked on the side of the road while smoke wafted into the cabin. In fact, the issue dates back over a decade.

In 2015, 72-year-old James Rogers and his pup, Leia, both passed away while in a Chevrolet Corvette. According to reports from the time, it was Rogers’ dream car. Once again, the battery died. Those who found Rogers and Leia tried to get in but couldn’t. When they finally did, both had succumbed to the heat inside the car. Making things even more tragic is the fact that the man evidently didn’t realize that the manual release for the door handle was inches away…

Manual Releases Are A Perfect Solution

In most of these cases with coherent occupants, the reality is that, just like in the case of Mr. Rogers, safety is usually one very close manual door handle pull away. There are still big issues to overcome, though. First, so many individuals have no idea where the manual door release is or how to access it. But knowledge isn’t the only concern. What happens when the occupant is incapacitated, say after a crash, as was the case when Walsh arrived at the burning Model Y?

Also: New Lawsuit Might Force Ford To Change Mustang Mach-E Door Handles

The front passenger, Susmita Maddi, was pinned by the airbags that had gone off. “It’s the most horrible thing, to see a human burning,” Walsh told Bloomberg. “If I was able to open the doors, I could have gotten them both out before the fire department even got there.” Maddi made it out alive but not without first suffering life-changing injuries. She inhaled fumes that did permanent damage to her lungs, but worse yet, she received third-degree burns to her face.

“Sometimes it is very depressing to see my face,” she says. “Who is this? I wouldn’t recognize myself. Is this what I am now? It took many months and many nights of crying to come to this stage.” She’s suing Tesla and claiming that the doors pose an unreasonable safety risk. “Buying a Tesla was the worst decision of our life,” Maddi says.

A Push For Change

Right now, China is reportedly considering a ban on flush door handles. The nation says that they’re unsafe and could soon require automakers to have at least partially exposed exterior handles and manual releases inside the car. Again, it’s not a perfect solution, but it could influence cars everywhere since several automakers consider China to be one of their biggest available markets.

QOTD: Should Governments Mandate Turn Signal Stalks And Intuitive Manual Door Handles?

Design can be deadly, as is clearly the case here. No doubt, even mechanical door latches can fail, but electric ones can add a layer of complexity when every second counts. Whether or not China‘s potential intervention ends up happening is yet to be seen. For now, anyone with electric door poppers should make themselves well aware of the manual release and how to use it in an emergency. It could very well make the difference between life and death.

Electric vehicles are often celebrated as a glimpse of the future, but real-world ownership can sometimes deliver a harsher reality. While the Rivian R1T has earned plenty of praise since its release, there have been recurring stories about reliability issues and inconsistent service experiences.

A recent account from one Rivian owner in the United States highlights the kind of breakdown that could make potential buyers pause before signing on the dotted line.

Read: Bricked Screens, Greasy Fingerprints – A Rivian Driver’s Frustrating Service Journey

According to this driver, his nine-month old R1T abruptly locked up while he was cruising through his neighborhood, leaving him no choice but to call for a tow. He shared the experience on Reddit, where he expressed doubts about the truck’s reliability and Rivian’s response in situations like this.

A Sudden Breakdown

The owner says that while he was slowing to a stop in the green R1T, the vehicle seized up, the wheels skidded, and the entire EV shuddered. Moments later, it randomly shifted into neutral, and every warning light was illuminated on the instrument cluster. The issues didn’t stop there as a “terrible smelling smoke” then started to enter the cabin from under the center console.

To make matters worse, he says he had to stay inside the pickup as smoke filled the cabin because if he dared to lift his foot off the brake pedal, he says the Rivian would roll have backward.

Understandably, the incident has left the owner rather shaken. In the past, he questioned what could have happened had the alleged catastrophic failure occurred while he was driving on the highway, or if there were other cars nearby. “I could have slammed into someone! I can’t trust this vehicle ever again. I wouldn’t let my family be in it,” he wrote in the post.

The Towing Headache

The process of towing the vehicle also proved to be quite a headache for the owner. He says he decided to use his roadside insurance to get the R1T towed to a local Rivian service center, but was then given a “five-minute lecture” from a Rivian representative for not calling the carmaker directly.

“When I called Rivian support to confirm that my tow truck could just take it straight to the service center I had to listen to the rep lecture me on how I should have called Rivian first and not have used my roadside insurance,” he said.

“Seriously a five minute lecture while my foot was on the brake, my hand was propping the door slightly ajar so I could air out the cabin, all the while trying to signal to traffic to go around (people were nicely stopping and asking if I was alright),” the owner added.

Also: Rivian Owner’s Quality And Service Nightmares Expose The Pain Of Being A ‘Beta Tester’

At the time of writing, the owner hadn’t provided any updates about their electric pickup, and didn’t mention if Rivian had looked at the EV to determine what the problem was. If the incident unfolded as the owner claims, then it seems likely the R1T suffered either a serious mechanical or electrical malfunction, which left it stranded.

Rough R1T Experience – Will never go Rivian again
byu/lekun inRivian

Lead image Reddit u/lekun

For as good as the Rivian R1T and R1S are, they do not sell at the volumes needed to ensure the brand can be profitable. This is why it is venturing downmarket, gearing up to release a more affordable model range known as the R2. And in preparation for its launch, Rivian is looking to slash costs, which means making layoffs.

Rivian confirmed that it recently cut about 225 jobs, roughly 1.5 percent of its 15,000 employees. The reductions targeted its commercial division, which oversees sales and service operations, and affected staff in both the United States and Canada.

Read: Rivian’s Secret Plans Might Include A Lot More Than Just The R2 And R3

Speaking with The Wall Street Journal, a company spokesperson confirmed that employees who were let go are being encouraged to apply for other open positions.

The Trump Effect

While the arrival of Donald Trump to the White House for his second term has been good news for some car manufacturers, including Stellantis with its gas-guzzling Dodge and Ram brands, things are proving to be more difficult for EV makers like Rivian.

As the US administration has eliminated fines for violations of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules, Rivian will no longer need to sell compliance credits to other automakers that would have fallen foul of these rules.

According to Rivian, this alone will cost it an estimated $100 million in revenue. That’s money that could have come in very handy in launching the R2, as well as other future models like the R3, R4, and R5.

Industry Pullback

Rivian is not the only EV maker recalibrating under the new landscape. Several other car companies have also been preparing to reduce production of their EVs, given that the federal EV tax credit will end on September 30. In Detroit, GM has temporarily laid off roughly 360 employees for a month to reduce GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Escalade IQ production.

Rivian is celebrating the grand opening of their latest space in Miami’s Mary Brickell Village. It’s the company’s second location in the area and it spans roughly 4,000 square feet.

Since store openings are rarely exciting, Rivian decided to up the ante by unveiling a specially designed R1S that “pays tribute to Miami’s vibrant design heritage and its lasting impact on pop culture.” In this case, the model draws inspiration from the 1980’s and embraces an eye-catching color palette worthy of the era.

More: Rivian R1 Lineup Gains 850 HP California Dune Edition

As you can see, the electric SUV sports a white exterior that is broken up by black accents as well as blue and teal side stripes. They’re joined by pink tow hooks and a teal front bumper accent. These colorful touches can also be found on the wheels, which sport black, pink, white, and teal flourishes.

Rivian didn’t say much about the interior, but it appears to feature Ocean Coast upholstery with pink accents on the headrests. We can also see special floor mats that feature a blue and white pattern as well as a teal border.

The company said the vehicle “captures the spirit of our brand – celebrating creativity and nostalgia in a way that feels both fresh and uniquely Rivian.”

Since the one-off model is based on the R1S Tri-Motor, it features three electric motors producing a combined output of 850 hp (634 kW / 862 PS). This enables the SUV to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in less than 2.9 seconds and travel up to 371 miles (597 km) on a single charge.

Owning a brand-new car is supposed to be a joyful experience. Buying one from a relatively new automaker can heighten those feelings since the product typically offers exciting innovations. For one Rivian owner, though, the whole thing has left a bittersweet taste in his mouth.

His situation, shared in a pair of Reddit posts, highlights the challenges that come with supporting a new automaker. It also points out how shaky service can sour an otherwise stellar product.

Read: Rivian Owner’s Quality And Service Nightmares Expose The Pain Of Being A ‘Beta Tester’

The first issue popped up when the owner in question slipped into his R1T to find that the screens were dead. No reset procedure worked, so the truck was basically a big, shiny, expensive brick. “I love this truck, it’s amazing,” he wrote, “but these damn problems that keep popping up are making it hard to keep loving.”

Service Setbacks

After a tow, Rivian’s service center replaced the 12-volt battery, swapped out a faulty AXM module, and flushed the coolant. The owner picked the truck up days later, hoping his troubles were behind him. To say was he wrong would be an understatement: actually, he had more problems before even leaving the service center, the least of all being that there were ‘greasy fingerprints’ all over and the floor mats were dirty.

The big issue was that his Apple CarPlay no longer worked. He tried logging out and back in, to no avail. Moreover, the driver’s traffic visualization system was non-functional and things like the ‘smart turn signals’ were on the fritz. “This isn’t fun guys, I’m seriously about to give up on this truck,” he wrote in a full follow-up.

To be fair, this sort of story isn’t unique to Rivian. Service mishaps happen at every automaker, including legacy brands. The difference is that companies like Ford, GM, and Toyota have decades-old networks of dealers and service processes to lean on. Rivian is still building its infrastructure from scratch.

You May Love It – But Can You Trust It?

Many owners rave about positive experiences, but enough of them report headaches like this that it underscores how fragile trust can be when the car in question relies heavily on things like complex software and untested support systems to function as it should. One commenter in the thread claims they’ve been in for service between 10-15 times in just two years. In the end, for this particular Rivian owner, the R1T still feels like the right truck – when it works. 

Credit: DrkNeo

Making a splash is usually just a figure of speech, but Uber and Turo are giving it a more literal twist with their latest promotion. The two companies have teamed up to create a pool truck, letting customers book short but memorable rides in a Rivian R1T converted into a rolling oasis. For a couple of days in Miami, lucky participants can enjoy free two-hour sessions complete with extra perks.

The program kicked off in Los Angeles on August 23 and 24. On August 30 and 31, the Rivian pool truck is moving to Miami and bringing an all-inclusive experience.

The pool truck will feature floaties, frozen treats, and even a personal attendant to keep the vibes flowing. Participants will even get a $300 credit toward future Turo rentals through Uber Rent. Importantly, diving is not allowed given the pool’s depth of about 18 inches.

More: You Can Rent A Ford Bronco Sport On Turo For $95 A Day

Uber and Turo say that even if you can’t get in on the fun in person, they’re offering $25 off bookings of $100 or more through September 1. Uber One members earn 10 percent credits on top of that deal. As far as we can tell, bookings are closed at this point, but there’s no harm in checking for yourself. As for reaction to the event? Being sold out seems like a good indication, but online reactions are less eager.

The Internet Weighs In

Jokes are flying left and right like “If that’s a pool, I have an ocean in my backyard.” That’s even funnier considering both Miami and LA have actual oceans very close by for folks who actually want to swim.

Posts from the rivnstock
community on Reddit

Others pointed out that this whole thing kinda sounds a bit gross given that Rivians aren’t built with onboard water filtration systems. “So you get in and do what? Just sit in a soup of everyone’s dirt? It’s not a hot tub, just a glorified bath,” said one commenter.

A Short-Lived Spectacle

Whether it’s a clever stunt or just a curious experiment, the pool truck feels destined to make headlines for a moment before drying up. It’s eye-catching, fun, and clearly well-organized, but as a long-term idea, maybe not the most practical or clean.

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Credit: Uber Turo

Big ambitions sometimes meet unexpected detours, and for Rivian, one such moment reportedly involved a flooded factory floor in Normal, Illinois. A few months ago, operations came to a sudden stop when a forklift operator hit an overhead water pipe, sending water through the facility.

In a TikTok video reportedly posted by someone identifying as the driver, he alleged that he was under the influence and listening to music through his headphones at the time.

Read: From Cracked Skulls To Lost Fingers, Worker Injuries Pile Up At Rivian Plant

It shows him reversing the forklift along the line, but unbeknownst to him, it was too high, and the bright red water pipe was running a little too low. The top of the forklift can be seen smashing into the water pipe, splitting it in two, and causing water to pour into the factory.

According to the operator, who goes by the handle “deryiooo” on TikTok, work on the line had to be halted while other staffers were forced to clean up the mess. While he no longer works for Rivian, he says he was not immediately fired for slamming into the water pipe and only had to file an incident report.

@deryiooo The day I flooded rivian and cost them $457,345 😂😭 and almost got sued 😳 (is a story time necessary) FOR THE 2nd TIME FOLLOW FOR MORE CONTENT #BLACKLISTED #viral #tiktokviral #rivian ♬ original sound – Keepingthetabs

While he was not initially let go, he says that several months later, he did lose his job at Rivian. At around the same time, he also received a letter in the mail, revealing that the incident had caused $457,345 worth of damage.

Carscoops has reached out to Rivian, asking for additional information about the incident and when it occurred. Some online commenters have claimed it took place in the factory’s battery department and that similar incidents have occurred at least twice before. According to those same unverified accounts, the forklift driver may have struck the overhead water pipes on two or possibly three occasions.

@deryiooo (Follow for story time) Aftermath of the work accident I had that caused 400k and damages at rivian 😳😳 #viral #tiktok #rivian ♬ sonido original – Mr. HardHat

@deryiooo Story time when I flooded Rivian with my forklift truck and didn’t lose my job LIKE SHARE FOLLOW AND COMMENT #viral #tiktok #rivian #viraltiktok ♬ original sound – Keepingthetabs