275: A Lot of RivianThe Watt Car EV Podcast · Jun 18, 2026
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Concept
EV Displacement Replacement
It’s a fun phrase that compares old-school gas-engine “displacement” to EVs. The idea is that EVs don’t use the same engine size concept, so it’s being replaced by electricity.
A frunk is a storage compartment in the front of an EV—like a trunk, but at the nose of the car. It exists because there’s usually no engine taking up that space.
They’re talking about “internal combustion” cars, meaning cars with gasoline or diesel engines. “Performance” here means how fun and capable the car is to drive, not just how fast it is.
The BMW 3 Series is a popular BMW model line that’s been made for many decades. It’s a compact car that’s meant to balance everyday comfort with a more engaging drive. It’s often discussed because many BMW versions and upgrades are based on it.
BMW Neue Klasse is BMW’s name for a new car platform they’re working on. A platform is basically the main “foundation” that future cars are built on. The podcast connects it to BMW’s performance history to explain where BMW is headed next.
Term
M concept Neue Klasse
“Neue Klasse” is BMW’s name for a future generation of car platform/technology. When they mention an “M concept” with it, they mean a BMW performance (M) concept car that’s meant to show what that next platform could enable.
They’re referring to the BMW 7 Series, which is BMW’s top luxury sedan. The host thinks the front grille on newer 7 Series models looks overly large and cartoon-like.
A racing harness is a stronger, more secure seatbelt setup used in track driving. It keeps the driver firmly in place during aggressive driving, more than a regular seatbelt.
This is about the dashboard using one big screen in the middle instead of multiple displays. The host is saying they either like or dislike that layout depending on how it’s implemented.
They’re talking about where the speed display is. Some cars put the speedometer right in front of the driver, while others hide it or show it in a different spot.
The Honda Civic is a common compact car that people buy for daily driving. It has had many generations, and “ninth gen” refers to one of those versions. It’s mentioned because it’s a familiar example of a normal, everyday car model.
“Quad motor” means the car has four electric motors. More motors can help the car put power to the wheels more precisely, which can improve acceleration and grip.
This means the car uses a higher-voltage battery/electrical system. In simple terms, it can help the car charge faster because the system can move more power efficiently.
This is how fast the car can charge at a fast charger, measured in kilowatts. Higher numbers usually mean quicker charging, but it still depends on conditions like battery temperature and charger capability.
“Kilowatt hour” (kWh) is a measure of how much energy the battery can store. A bigger number usually means the car can go farther, but driving conditions still matter.
This is a rough way people talk about how much power the car could have. Even if the car has four motors, the actual output can be limited by software and how much heat the system can handle.
“M3” is BMW’s name for a high-performance version of a model. They’re saying the new electric version might be branded simply as “M3” instead of using an extra “i” in the name.
They mean EVs should be talked about like normal cars, not like a totally different kind of vehicle. The naming point is that the car should sound like a regular model name, even if it’s electric.
The BMW E30 M3 is an older BMW performance car that many enthusiasts consider one of the best M3s. People like it because it feels very connected and fun to drive, and it’s powered by a traditional gas engine.
DSG is a type of automatic transmission that shifts very quickly using two clutches. The idea is that it can change gears fast without the car feeling like it’s “pausing” between gears.
A parts car is a car that someone keeps mainly so they can take parts off it for another car. It’s usually not the “main” car—it’s more like a donor vehicle.
The Dodge Charger is a car name that’s usually associated with strong performance. The podcast is talking about Dodge bringing an electric version of the Charger idea. That matters because it shows how the Charger is changing for EVs.
“Straight sixes” means an engine with six cylinders lined up in a row. The host is saying BMW is known for this kind of engine, and that could affect how people feel about the gas versions versus EVs.
All-wheel drive means the car can send power to more than two wheels, which helps it grip the road better. That can make launches and corner exits feel more stable, especially when traction is limited.
The BMW M5 is BMW’s top performance sedan. It’s the kind of car people buy when they want “M” power and handling in a bigger body. The host brings it up because some M5 versions have used all-wheel drive before.
The Nürburgring is a very famous race track in Germany. Car makers and reviewers use it to compare how fast and how well cars handle. The host is basically saying it’ll be a good place to see how an EV compares to a gas car.
A “one-to-one comparison” tries to match two cars as closely as possible so you can see what changes because of the powertrain. The point here is that real-world results can be more complicated than simple stereotypes.
“Stalantis” sounds like the automaker Stellantis. The host is basically saying the parent company’s strategy and marketing choices influence how brands like Dodge perform.
The Tesla Cyber Cab is a Tesla EV concept that’s meant to work like an autonomous ride/cab. The hosts talk about its battery size and whether it uses front-wheel drive, which changes how the car can fit passengers and luggage.
Kilowatt-hours (kWh) tell you how much energy is stored in the EV battery. The hosts are saying this concept might have around 50 kWh, which usually means a smaller battery than many long-range EVs.
Front-wheel drive means the front wheels are the ones that get power. The hosts are saying that, for this kind of vehicle, putting the drive components up front can free up more space in the back for luggage.
An autonomous vehicle is a car that can drive itself. The point here is about how the vehicle is used and where people and luggage are positioned, not about the driver’s seat being in the way.
A liftback is a car with a rear door that lifts up to open the trunk/cargo area. It’s like a hatchback, but the rear shape is usually a bit more “car-like” and streamlined.
EPA range is an official estimate of how far an electric car can go on one charge. It’s based on standardized testing, so your real range may be higher or lower depending on how you drive and the weather.
The Tesla Model Y is an electric SUV that many people use as a practical, everyday EV. Here, the hosts are saying it could be the kind of car used for most single- or two-person rides.
A composite is a “made-from-more-than-one-material” panel. It’s often lighter than metal and can be shaped in a factory process that’s good for mass production.
Sheet molding compound (SMC) is a plastic material mixed with reinforcement (often fiberglass) that’s pressed into shape. It’s commonly used to make car body parts because it can be produced efficiently.
“Body in white” means the car’s main metal shell is built, but it’s not fully finished yet. At that point it usually doesn’t have the electronics, engine, or other major parts installed.
A subframe is like a smaller metal frame inside the car that supports important parts. It helps hold things like the suspension in place and can make the car easier to build and repair.
“Start of production” is when the company plans to begin building the cars for real, not just prototypes. If that date slips, it usually means customers get the cars later too.
“Q1 2027” means the first three months of 2027. If a car company moves its production target to that window, it usually means the cars will arrive later than originally planned.
Rivian R3 X is a different version of the upcoming R3 EV. The hosts are questioning whether Rivian will actually build it, based on timing and whether the company makes enough money.
Caltrans is California’s transportation agency. Here it’s mentioned because it ordered more electric vehicles from Rivian, which suggests EV adoption is expanding beyond just private buyers.
EVs are electric vehicles powered by electricity from batteries. The segment is using EV orders to show that more organizations are buying electric cars.
Ford’s “Super Duty” is a line of heavy-duty trucks that lots of fleets use for tough jobs. The host is saying Caltrans already uses these trucks, so the EV comparison isn’t coming out of nowhere.
The Silverado EV is Chevrolet’s electric pickup truck. The host is talking about Caltrans using them, and how they may be relatively cheaper versions meant for fleets.
The Rivian R1T is Rivian’s electric pickup truck, known for its adventure-oriented design and EV performance. The host compares Caltrans’ likely Silverado EV “WT” cost to the Rivian R1T, implying the Rivian is more expensive than the fleet-focused Chevy.
“WT” usually means “Work Truck,” which is the simpler, more stripped-down trim meant for fleets and work use. The host is saying the EV they saw wasn’t the fancy top version.
In EV charging talk, “icing” means parking in a charger spot without charging. The host is admitting they were parked there and taking up the space.
Term
52 point 7000000 dollars
This is the host’s stated total spending figure for the program they’re discussing, expressed as a dollar amount. It’s relevant because it frames the scale of the government vehicle procurement they’re debating.
“Cash flow positive” means the company is taking in more money than it’s spending. If you’re not cash-flow positive yet, you usually need funding or reserves to keep operating.
“Vertically integrate” means the company tries to build more of the parts in-house instead of relying on outside vendors. The idea is to control quality and costs as production grows.
EVs use a high-voltage electrical system to move the car. It’s different from the normal 12-volt system and needs special safety and control equipment.
“Power electronics” are the EV’s electrical control parts. They take electricity from the battery and convert/control it so the motor can run efficiently.
Full autonomy means the car drives by itself without you having to watch the road. The discussion here is about how close (or far) current systems really are.
Driving assist means the car helps you with parts of driving, like staying in lane or controlling speed. It doesn’t fully replace the driver in most real-world cases.
Level 3 is when the car can drive for you in some situations, but you still have to be ready to take control. It’s not a blanket “you don’t have to watch” system.
“No pedals” is a way of saying the car is supposed to drive without you using the gas or brake. The hosts are basically arguing that real systems still have limits and requirements.
“Level four” means the car can drive itself in certain situations without the driver needing to constantly watch. The host’s point is that accidents can still happen, so someone still needs to be responsible for the costs.
“Self driving” here refers to automated driving systems that attempt to perceive the road and control the vehicle without continuous human input. The segment uses a near-miss/accident scenario to argue that even advanced automation can be affected by unexpected events, which is why liability and business strategy matter.
Rivian R2 is a future Rivian electric SUV/pickup-style EV that the company is working to sell. In this episode, they mention it as the car where Rivian plans to start rolling out some new features, including how radio works inside the vehicle.
Infotainment is the car’s dashboard system for things like music, radio, and navigation. In this segment they’re talking about infotainment changes on the Rivian R2, especially for listening to radio.
Terrestrial FM refers to traditional over-the-air radio broadcast received through an antenna. The hosts say Rivian is dropping traditional radios, meaning the R2 will rely more on streaming/digital radio instead of classic FM reception.
“Rivian digital radio” is Rivian’s newer way to get radio/music in the car instead of classic over-the-air FM. The takeaway is that starting with the R2, you’ll be more dependent on streaming/digital services.
A cellular connection means the car can use the same kind of mobile network your phone uses. Instead of picking up radio stations with an antenna, it can stream the audio over that network.
An FM receiver is the part of a car radio that listens for normal radio stations over the air. This episode is saying the system can work without that traditional radio hardware by using a data connection instead.
A tuner chip is the electronics that help the radio “tune” into regular broadcast stations. If the audio comes over the internet/mobile network instead, the car may not need that chip.
Electromagnetic interference is electrical “noise” that can mess with other electronics. In a car, that noise can show up as static or weird audio behavior when the wiring or grounding isn’t right.
A grounding issue means the car’s electrical “return path” isn’t connected correctly. When that happens, unwanted noise can get into the audio system, so you hear things you shouldn’t.
The Tesla Model 3 is an electric car that can use the internet while you drive. Some streaming and connected features rely on a cellular data subscription, so you may have to pay to get them.
A reservation is a specific type of land area. In this story, it’s where the host ran into long stretches without phone signal, which can affect internet-based car features.
The GMC Yukon is a large SUV. It can have a built-in service button (OnStar), but if the car only supports an older phone network, that button can stop working when the network is retired.
OnStar is a service built into some cars that can help in emergencies and provide connectivity features. If the car can’t connect to the modern cell networks anymore, the button may not work.
Term
2G
2G is an older type of cell-phone network. If your car’s built-in connectivity only works on 2G, it may stop working when that network gets shut down.
This is a proposed law in the U.S. that would require cars to include AM radio. The idea is that AM radio can still be used for emergency messages, even if other services aren’t working.
An AM radio receiver is the part of a car that lets you listen to AM stations. If a law requires it, car makers have to include that capability in the infotainment system.
This means using satellites that fly relatively close to Earth. They can help keep a signal available for things like connectivity, so you’re less likely to lose service when you drive far away.
Starlink is a satellite internet service. The point here is that it could help cars stay connected even when regular cell coverage is weak or unavailable.
“SOS” is an emergency button/feature on your phone. It’s meant to quickly get help, and in some situations it works by sending a text instead of making a call.
Mechanical physical controls are the normal buttons and knobs you can press without going through menus. The host is comparing that to using the screen or speaking to the car.
In this context, “the cloud” means the car sends your voice commands to an internet server to figure out what you said. The newer approach is that the car can do that processing inside the vehicle.
An inflection point is when a change starts happening faster or becomes more common. In this case, it means voice control is improving enough that more people are starting to use it.
“Software based” means more of the car’s features are controlled by computer programs. The idea is that instead of lots of physical hardware, the car can handle functions through software.
Burning cash means the company is using up its money faster than it’s earning it back. For EV startups, that can happen when building cars and developing new tech costs a lot upfront.
This means the work a car company does to make cars drive themselves or handle driving tasks automatically. The host is saying Rivian is spending a lot of money on that, and it’s hurting their finances.
RJ Scurringe is a Rivian leader. The hosts are saying they think he’s the right person to run the company right now.
LIVE
This is the What Car? EV podcast for Thursday, June 18th, 2026, episode 275.
A lot of Rivian.
You remember when we got kind of philosophical?
I don't know if it was last episode or the one before that.
We got philosophical?
Well, yeah.
So philosophical, so philosophical that I forgot all about it.
Yeah.
That's how philosophical I am.
Well, we might get into that again today, but we'll see.
Yeah.
Just before we clicked record, you summed up this episode that you're about to listen
to as a few random items and then a whole bunch of Rivian.
Yes.
I think that's maybe that's even, let me write that down, a few random items.
Then, Rivian.
Maybe that's the show title.
I don't know.
I am Phil Royal.
I am one of the co-hosts here and I am unprepared to take you to the What Car?
What Car?
Flash store.
What Car?
Flash store.
So while I'm loading that, I will tell people, which I forgot to do last week, go to youtube.com
slash at the What Car and you can watch us smiling faces.
If you don't do that, I've still, I got a new computer last week and I still have to
type everything in manually instead of having things like quick linked.
So everything I'm doing has to be like done the long way until I actually get some time
to do anything which is never going to happen.
Get an optimal spot to do a thing.
Yes.
That's what I need an optimal spot.
What I have on screen if you're at youtube.com slash at the What Car is you will see D-shirts.
This is how we support the blog and the podcast is we have Munch and Dice.
So not all of it has a logo.
Some of it says EVAF.
Some of it says EV Displacement Replacement.
Some says I've got an adapter for that.
A t-shirt made specifically for Ed.
Because you know what?
He has an adapter for that.
Yes.
A frunk full of adapters.
That was one I don't think I made.
A frunk full of adapters.
Frunk full of adapters.
Yeah.
It would be a good one.
Yeah.
Why should people listen to me?
Because I make money doing this kind of stuff.
Thus I am an expert on it.
And I'm old so I've been around for a while.
Okay.
Time for me to burnish my credentials.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Ed Sanchez also old and doing whatever this is a while.
EV owner and enthusiast but I can appreciate a good combustion engine every now and then.
So speaking of which we're going to jump right into it because I would consider.
I'm excited about this one.
Yeah.
So this is one I would consider one of the icons of internal combustion performance.
I'd say definitely over the past 50 years for sure.
Yeah.
The BMW M3.
So first came out and I don't know was it 84 85 camera.
Remember something like that somewhere on the E 30 generation.
And ironically that one of the kind of publicity photos that accompanied this release.
It showed this new they're calling it the M concept Neue Klasse next to the original M30 or not M30.
E 30 M3.
Yeah.
The E 30 M3 which had the really cool boxy flares and yeah.
So definitely different looking but I like the new one.
I like the look.
And I've not been a wholesale fan of BMW's newer models.
Especially like you know the seven series and some of those I think the grill started enlarging to like cartoonish proportions and just.
I don't know this.
This has a little bit of edge to it and some attitude.
I know I like it.
So I don't know what your thoughts are on it.
This is an absolute styling homerun.
Yeah.
Like there is no.
There's nothing I don't like about the way that this vehicle looks like absolutely nothing.
Now.
It won't make it to production this way.
Oh what the racing harnesses and.
Yeah.
One PC racing harnesses all that stuff but this even on the interior for like a single screen which I'm I'm never.
Really a big fan of a single center screen.
I'm not a huge fan of that.
But even this makes it look good.
I don't.
I'm confused by there not being a speedometer in front of you and.
Yeah.
There is if you look carefully.
It's a little eyebrow like right above the steering wheel.
Oh OK.
I see and that's not even a head up.
That's a oh that's like the Civic the like ninth gen Civic isn't it.
Yes but I think this is actually a projection.
Either way so there's like a little.
Well anyway yeah.
I like this.
I like it.
I like it.
I like it.
There are specs that go with this.
And none of them are guaranteed to make it into production.
It is quad motor.
800 volt.
400 kilowatt charging.
100 plus kilowatt hour battery.
I didn't see anything on acceleration.
But I would guess mid to second range if not faster.
I would say so I've heard unsubstantial.
I can't remember where I saw this and this could be completely speculative.
I heard some people speculating this could be about a thousand horsepower.
I mean it's got four motors.
Has no excuse not to be a thousand horsepower.
Yeah.
So yeah I yeah this is an absolute home run.
I just I don't.
Well let me it will let me ask you anything bad about this other than the price is going to be like a hundred and.
Oh I'm sure it's going to be even or something easily six figures.
Yeah the design it reminds me of I should have looked this up once again.
I say this every few weeks.
If I were any if I were better at my job I would have researched this.
It reminds me of was it the eight series.
There was very long in the nose.
I mean look this up BMW eight or was it the.
I'll tell you what it actually and I've thought about this as soon as I saw the new your class of sedan.
The car reminds me of is actually not a BMW.
And it was a pretty obscure car at least in the U.S.
It was the it's the Maserati by turbo sedan.
Oh yeah that's what it looks like to me but.
So the car that I was thinking of was and I don't know the year exactly but it's the I've just pulled up on the YouTube's 1998 series.
Oh God.
Oh that eight series.
Yeah that eight series.
Okay okay.
Yeah I see it.
That's what it kind of reminds me of and I've always liked that car.
So did we talk about this it's a concept.
Yes it is supposedly not going to have the I in front of the M3 when it's released as an M3.
It's just going to be an M3 which is normalizing electric vehicles.
Heaven forbid that these should be called cars and not electric cars or i cars or whatever it is the manufacturer or ID dots or what other people like every at some point these are cars.
They're cars or a Silverado with the blue E.
Yeah I mean I guess that was a small little nod I don't.
Well I mean I guess so this this is where it gets back to being philosophical so BMW I mean there are some current M.
E. V.
Models but traditionally the M series cars were internal combustion obviously you know kind of the pinnacle of the line in terms of performance.
BMW has actually done fairly well with their EV sales so it's not like EVs have been a total flop form but I'm just wondering how you think the reception will be for this versus the internal combustion version which they are promising will follow a year after.
So.
The not being an either or I think is a win you can get electric ice great.
I have very high standards for M3 is the the E30 M3 was a fun nice car.
It was pretty good.
Yeah but the 36 M3 really like that nailed it.
That got that kind of got well at least the European version.
Well even even here it got it right.
It got a watered it down a little bit for the US for that.
Yeah but for what we had knew it was fine.
But the E46 M3 that was like a fatter version and it came out with I forgot what engine was in it but it was 333 horsepower.
It came it was the first one that came with like the DSG whatever paddle shift things that was the it was more bloated I guess it was more advanced than the others.
But to me it was the most on edge M3 that they made that I could not believe when I drove one of those that they would release this to the public that people would not be wrecking these things left and right.
And so they went the E30 they went to the E36 got them all right the the E46 like absolute home run in my book.
I haven't driven the newer ones since then so I don't know but I assume that they've gotten better.
It's just a great car and the other day because I'm kind of passively shopping.
I was like car shopping and I was like man should I should I shop for an E46 M3.
Is that is that disaster waiting to happen.
That's going to be fall my house with that car because you can't really get the 36 M3s anymore even though this guy up the street from me just moved in and he's got two of them.
One of the parts car ones.
Yeah the white one does kind of look like it's had some parts borrowed off of it but they're both on the street they both drive.
So this I looked at the styling I wasn't very offended by the big kidney nose that they've put in recent years I think in the M version that looks really nice.
But the beaver tooth.
Yeah the big beaver teeth things that I was not offended by those with the right trim package on the car lowered it had a nice little chin spoiler it looked good to me it was a mean looking car especially as a race car.
This I look at this and it was like a lot of cars require a second look you know like the Mercedes grill that they're putting on their EVs their new EVs and I'm like some of them I really like some I'm like I gotta hold off and see it in person this I.
I don't need to see this car.
This is this is fine wise I like this.
I kind of wonder if they're.
Doing the right strategy because.
I mean I know some people might be offended by this analogy or comparison but.
I think what what Dodge did with the charger and coming out the EV version first.
Which was a colossal sales flop nobody wanted it.
And now they're like oh well now we have the hurricane which from what I've heard is still not selling great even though objectively the hurricane is a great idea.
Engine but everyone wants a Hemi and so they're still just kind of sitting on lots gathering cobwebs.
I you know BMW is always I mean they've had V8s but they've always been famous for their straight sixes.
So I mean I think for sure the gas version the ice versioners you know they're going to be huge huge demand for that.
I'm kind of wondering if they shouldn't have come out with the ice version first but.
Well this be the first all wheel drive M3.
I don't know it's not the first all wheel drive M vehicle.
Yes I think the M5.
The current and maybe even the previous generation were all wheel drive.
This may this may be the first all wheel drive M3 but don't don't quote me on that.
And it'll be heavy and it'll get panned because the gas version will be able to outperform it on handling courses.
So yeah but in a straight line I'm sure the EV will smoke it.
Yeah it'll be interesting to see Nurburgring to Nurburgring because you know that they'll do it.
Somebody will do it that you'll have ice versus EV on this.
It will be interesting to see because there's no way the gas version is going to hit a thousand horsepower
and there's no way that a gas version is going to be able to get out of the corners like this.
This is going to be horribly violent.
Quad motor if it happens if quad motor happens.
I mean this is the ice version will probably be like 800 to a thousand pounds lighter.
Yeah and that's where it's going to be like this is going to have over a hundred kilowatt hour battery.
Like it's at least 500 to 700 pounds heavier than any ice version.
It's hard to avoid mass when you're talking about a battery that big.
Yeah but I welcome it.
I don't know anybody who doesn't welcome this is crazy.
How about that.
My hot tank.
In one form or another or the EV specifically.
The EV I think the fact that you get both.
Yeah how is this not a win for the world.
Yeah win win.
Like I let the people decide and some people will buy ice and some people will buy EV and that's great.
Yeah I'll be interesting to see how the sales break down once they're both on the market.
Like there's I love these one to one way outpace the ice or vice versa or whatever.
Yeah I love even when with like Dodge where the EV flops and the ice version is flopping too.
But even where it fails I like these one to one comparisons you get to see it's not especially in the case
of like Dodge it's not as simple as well.
Nobody wants EV it's the audience that they've been marketing to the Stalantis is the brand
that they have built around Dodge and that cult.
They have shot themselves in the foot with going to anything other than a V8 and they saw it with EV
and they're seeing it with their six cylinder.
So it's it's a brand specific thing and I think I think BMW owners take to EV better than Dodge owner.
But this is what I think they're more open to it.
But most of their EV I guess success stories if you want to calm that or the more mainstream models
not necessarily in models.
Yeah we'll see.
Yeah I think you're talking about non mainstream models that this is definitely non mainstream.
But I mean so kind of converse to heavyweight BMWs this summer claiming this is the lightest
this would be the lightest weight EV currently on the roads and the US at least.
You sure seen that way.
Tesla Cyber Cab specs.
So we have we have some numbers here.
Smallish battery.
I think this one said 50 kilowatt hours I've seen others that are saying like 48 which is pretty small.
Interestingly front wheel drive which would make this the first Tesla that's front wheel drive if that's true.
Makes a lot of sense for a cab.
Yeah well yeah junk in the front but well more more place to put your junk in the trunk.
Yeah I guess I should say more room for your job.
I mean from a packaging standpoint I think it makes sense.
This is what I was exactly saying about like EV minivans and things like front wheel drive.
Because it's all about storage in the rear.
So get all that crap out of the back move it to the front.
Front wheel drive is perfectly OK.
So for certain applications it's great and this is one of those applications where you're going to put luggage in the back.
You don't want to stand in front of this autonomous vehicle.
The hatch open the rear cargo is pretty big.
Well it's a lift back.
It's one of your favorites.
Yeah my favorite yes.
Only 30 just a little bit over 3100 pounds which is very light by standards.
280 mile EPA range.
Not bad.
Which is kind of insignificant if you're talking about a fleet of these things that are self driving because they'll just go somewhere in charge.
And then come back and other cars will go around.
So what kind of strikes me about this is how like purpose built and kind of minimalist it is.
I think they designed it like like with the minimum viable not to saying it's junk but it's like what does it need to be.
Let's build it to that.
We don't this doesn't need to be a thousand horsepower.
This doesn't need to you know go around the Nürburgring in six minutes.
You know yeah you need to be efficient low cost of operation practical.
That's it.
So yeah and it's only a two seater.
If they keep to what they originally said which is how they get it down to 3100 pounds.
As you drop off.
Yeah and this is a 5% of the car going back a while ago we were talking about this like why they chose to Cedar.
And I guess statistically the majority of ride hailing drives are one to two passengers.
Something something like 85 or 90% of them.
Yep.
So my guess is how this is going to roll out is for single or two passenger rides it'll be these for like families it'll probably be a Model Y or some version of the Model Y.
Or they'll just tell you to take the bus.
So but yeah so it's kind of interesting like I said big focus on efficiency very minimalistic just straightforward.
So now this was it's been revealed new details this was the car and drive article link in the show notes.
It been revealed the specs or details about it have been revealed in EPA documents.
Which means that they've got production versions of this or near production versions of this that.
They have submitted to the documentation to I mean you wouldn't submit something that's like.
Alpha version that you don't even know what you're doing like this must be pretty pretty close.
And as far as I'm aware correct me if I'm wrong but we haven't seen these in the wild.
We've seen modified model wise acting as robo taxis.
We haven't seen the cyber cab which is a different being it's a two Cedar front.
I so it's another one of my friends actually sent me a picture of one in the wild.
Oh really in the L area.
Yeah.
I've only seen waymo's around here.
Yeah well I don't I don't think these are being widely deployed but I think they're they're out there in limited numbers.
I mean they must be.
Yeah the question is how quickly are they going to scale this.
So but yeah.
Yeah there are some on the road and they look.
Kind of crappy.
Well like I said they're they're built to kind of a minimum viability specification so.
I mean there's that's MSN.
Particularly amazing but you know.
No huge tires and wheels on it but I don't think I realize there's no rear window but why do you need one.
I mean there's no driver.
Yeah they don't look quite as pretty but as the studio pictures but.
What and I think the body panels are just composite.
They're it's not even painted.
Like they just inject the pigment into the end of the the the sheet molding compound or whatever it is.
Yeah so it's plastic car disposable.
Essentially I mean.
Yeah anyway and they're expecting to buy these or they're expecting fleets to buy them.
I think this is primarily fleet.
Because the initial the initial thing was you make money on these and it's like I can see people that own like five air B&Bs going by five of these and I'll make money.
I mean I think the return is going to be long.
Yeah.
I mean this doesn't really appeal to me.
No I wonder if you're going to have to have like a license.
I'm not necessarily like anti autonomous but if I own a car I want pedals in a wheel or a yoke or whatever.
I want to have some means of piloting it myself.
We'll get to autonomous again in a little bit and how that can actually drive you into bankruptcy.
For another company.
Well I say that that's a little tongue in cheek.
That's a tease.
Anyway so okay.
Something that you talked about last week.
Yes so trucks mini trucks.
Many trucks are back.
Many trucks are back the tello the goofy little mini Cooper size truck.
So I guess I'm going to have to go back and see if I can get it.
So I guess tellos announced they have secured a supplier for the body in white which is basically the chassis and I guess kind of the I don't know if that includes the fenders and stuff but basically basically the main shell that everything attaches to.
Yeah as far as I don't know how production goes but in the race car world where I'm from if you get a body in white you're getting a car that is the pan.
It's the subframe whatever the structure of it.
It's the pan.
It's the all the body work the glass.
I think the glass pretty sure the glass.
No wiring.
No brakes.
No electronics.
No engine.
I don't even know if bumpers come with it.
It is just this thing that you start with and then you plop everything else in there.
So if they're going to order body in whites then they are ordering something where they then put all of their stuff inside it is just a shell.
Yeah.
So they claim they have a supplier secured for that Schwab Industries in Michigan which I guess has been a automotive supplier for about 30 years or so.
And they're aiming for a start of production in late 2026 which you will see.
You know my opinion of startups and production.
Yes.
So I'm just wondering if this is going to be bumped out to Q1 2027 or 2028.
I mean who knows.
I don't want to speak on some I'm not.
I don't have insider knowledge of.
I made my opinions clear of the tello last week or the week before.
I wish them well.
I don't know how the market's going to react to this but if they can get them on the road and get people interested.
I mean more power to them.
So if anybody from tello is listening be careful.
Production is when you go out of business.
That is that is like make or break.
I mean it sounds like I'm being very negative against other companies that tried to go into production and then production killed them and that they didn't know what they were doing.
Tesla nearly killed Tesla with the Model 3.
They were setting up like easy ups in the parking lot sleeping on the estate.
The assembly line like they to get through the introduction of that that was their first mass production vehicle.
But now they were trying to produce hundreds of thousands of these Model 3's and that just about put them out of business.
They got through it somehow but that was their infamous production hell.
Well you get through it when you got bottomless pockets.
And not everybody has bottomless pockets.
Not everybody has a trillionaire sitting there in a cash in a pocket.
Well he wasn't at the time he is now but.
No he was only a billionaire probably.
Single digit billionaire at the time.
I don't actually know what he was in 2018 2017.
What was he how much.
What was let's see Elon Musk.
I'm going to guess say 20 billion.
Let's see if we can even find this his net worth in 2017.
What did you say 20 ding ding.
There's Forbes article it eclipses from this was August 2017 Elon Musk next net worth eclipses 20 billion for the first time.
There you go.
I figured it was single digits.
I figured it was like eight or 9000000000 but there you go.
You'll get a chicken dinner.
Even if they were underwritten by SpaceX right now they could do whatever the bleep they wanted.
Anyway I'll tell you who else I think would like that kind of money.
Is Rivian.
Yeah we're going into the big portion of the show which we've already spent now nearly 30 minutes on the bit that I thought would take us 10 minutes.
And you're you're you're throwing cold water on my on my EV hot hatched dreams.
I am a little bit.
I don't know.
So there was an interview with RJ Scorange that the drive did on their podcast called what was it the beat the drive the drive.
I guess the beat would make no sense.
And they had RJ Scorange on there and in it he said.
Let me let me find my quote because I did a ton of quotes on there.
Rivian he said as far as the R3 and R3 X Rivian has a really clear idea on a timeline we just haven't announced it yet.
It's a couple of years away.
So one of the other websites and I can't remember which one it was said by the end of the decade which we're already at 26.
So I mean that's really is never.
And I'm like when you're saying a couple of years away.
Quite possibly never for the R3 and R3 X certainly if the R2 doesn't that they've just started production on if that doesn't make them make money.
Then the R3 and the R3 will never see the light of day.
Yeah.
That's not a mainstream vehicle.
The R2 is a mainstream vehicle.
And he kind of proved it again in the same interview.
He said long quote here talking about Rivian Adventure Department the rad which I actually wrote that down so I remembered what it said for.
They announced rad earlier this year.
Was it last year whenever it was and RJ said when you think of rad and what it embodies and R3 X the R3 X was spiritual representative of the types of things we'll do with rad.
We just hadn't when we showed the R3 X we hadn't actually arrived at realizing what we wanted to create that we wanted to create a performance sub brand as a way to categorize these vehicles.
So if we were to launch or show the R3 X today we would have called it a rad vehicle.
So it would have fallen under a specialty department which means it's a niche.
They don't even count it as significant within their.
Well I would consider the R3 for the U.S. market a niche so it would be a niche of a niche.
Yeah so I don't I don't see where this happens with any kind of.
I was going to say enthusiasm.
They'll be enthusiastic about it but they're not about to jump at production in this vehicle and he's just said that when he said oh well the R3 X would be part of rad.
Well the R3 X will be the first version they produce.
It wouldn't produce the base R3 they produce the R3 X and try to sell it for 70 grand.
Yeah so or whatever I'm making the number up.
So that tells me.
I was going to say mid 60s at least.
Yeah so they're kind of that's not really going to happen while they're churning trying to make money but.
They have just announced that they might be able to maybe they're on their way to get a little bit more money because Caltrans.
For what California Department of Transportation.
Yeah.
Has ordered 524 additional EVs from Rivian.
Which indicates that they already had $2 of work.
Yeah I'm kind of I put a little commentary on this I'm kind of torn on this.
This seems a little bit extravagant for a government vehicle.
But I mean if you think about most of the other Caltrans vehicles you see I would say a good portion of Ford Superduties.
And even like a base base model Superduties are you know 55 60 grand for the gas versions.
You're talking about diesel then you're talking about 70 75 plus even for the basic you know fleet white models.
So really not maybe not that much more expensive than what they're currently buying and potentially a lot lower cost of operation.
So Caltrans I don't know which whatever the one of the libraries near me they parked some Caltrans vehicles in the back of the parking lot there.
And a couple of those are Silverado EVs.
So I know that they're not shy about spending some money.
Now they're probably those are probably cheaper than R1 T's.
I would guess.
Because they're definitely the WT model.
The very big bare bones Silverado.
But there's certainly into EVs I iced one of the chargers sent you a picture.
I was just turning around but this was like what a year or two ago.
I was turning around so I parked my car in that spot like the library was closed nobody was there.
But I thought this is hilarious.
I was a sudden at a picture of me icing this charger with my big old Yukon part.
Taking up two chargers spots.
I'm so funny.
I'm so funny.
Surprise you didn't put like EV and on with the electrical tape on the side just tried to dangle the charger on it.
Yeah I really should have tried to plug it in look confused.
That would have been funny.
Okay so they're spending total value of 52 point 7000000 dollars.
Which this these kind of deals help Rivian.
Rivian.
Dramatically.
I don't know if I'd say dramatically.
They help.
Well 52000000
They need to sell tens and hundreds of thousands not just 500
Yes.
Yeah so all right from back to that interview that the drive did RJ Scorange said and I don't know why I included this really long quote but I'll read it and I'll I'll discover why I included it in a minute.
He said Rivian hasn't generated a profit as a business yet and we haven't been cash flow positive as a business but that's not an accident.
It's actually a very intentional and methodical build out of a bunch of capabilities in order to build a much larger business and on the product side we've taken the decision to vertically integrate in almost all technically important areas.
So software electronics high voltage systems power electronics motors everything associated with drive line.
And we've done that because we want to make both really capable products but we also wanted to have a structural cost advantage as we go to scale.
So in addition to the product we have vertically integrated on the rest of the business including.
Yeah.
So he says OK we've not made any money yet this 52000000 I'm sure is a stopgap that that gives them additional electricity until lunchtime on Friday.
Because Rivian at the end of 2025 when I look this up had just over 6000000000 dollars cash on hand.
As of March thirty first this year end of Q one.
They have burned one and a quarter billion dollars to only have four point 8000000000 dollars on hand.
They owe five point 2000000000 dollars but when I look that up apparently that's not that bad because they've actually got more cash and assets.
They've got like two times the assets so they're actually not.
It's a parent I don't know finances but apparently owing more than you have is not necessarily a bad thing because they fall in this one category whatever it is.
But if you're burning a billion dollars a quarter and you've only got 5000000000 dollars less than 5000000000 in the bank.
I know.
Runway.
Yes which goes back to my comment of this keeps the electricity on until Friday afternoon.
Yeah if they when they get.
I mean I think the pressure is on for the R2 to perform.
Which is another reason why the R3 and the R3 acts is not going to happen.
I mean when he says a couple of years when that other article was saying by the end of the decade I think that's optimistic.
I think I think they're going to have to do the R2 and then a revamp of the R2 or a revamp of the R1.
Yeah before they get around to something like a fun little.
Drivey whatever rabbit looking type vehicle or or the other thing I could see assuming they have enough funding to do this is they have expressed at one point a desire to expand into Europe.
The R3 would actually be the perfect launch model for the European market I think.
So I could conceivably if you know if they go through with that that it would launch in Europe first and then maybe come to the US.
Yeah they made a stripo version to compete with like the Polo EV and.
Not necessarily Polo but like the next gen like EV Golf.
It's kind of hard to judge exactly how big the R3 is.
That's where I was going is we learned a week or so ago that the new Polo is the same size as like your golf that you had your mark for.
So a little smaller but yeah I mean they're basically the same.
Yeah size is craziness.
It's basically the size of a Mark 2 golf but so so the golf golf golf EV will probably be.
Not a little bigger but yeah.
That's a big difference.
So Rivian had hoped to make their first profit in 2027 they'd said but as of like March this year last year I don't remember didn't write the note.
Once again if I were better at this job they have walked that back and said you know what we're not going to be profitable in 2027.
And the reason that they gave is what I referred to earlier autonomous development.
So they are dumping a bunch of money down in that boondoggle and ending up with a potential of.
I think I want to say I read they had a partnership they announced a partnership with Uber.
Yes Uber is supposed to give like one point 2000000000 dollars in orders to Rivian which once again I mean that.
Better than Caltrans.
Yeah it's better than Caltrans but it's Uber like Uber they strike deals up with everybody and then nothing ever comes through and they've been I don't know where they stand now but they are known for not making money.
Like that they were under charging in order to just make it into the market I don't know where they are now they're probably profitable for all I know.
But I just I don't see full autonomous vehicles as a near future something that when you're a startup that you need to worry about.
I think you need to come to market with Lane Assist driving assist you need things like that some hands off controls but you don't need this sounds to me like this is full autonomy that they're working on.
And I know that they've updated their computer and the old ones won't do the self driving and all that stuff same story.
Yes.
Yeah same story as Tesla because they can't get there.
They don't it's years away.
Don't waste your time.
Just make your vehicle get profitability.
Nobody's doing the self driving certainly not the like Mercedes has their their blue draw.
No that was somebody else's blue drive whatever Mercedes has that has full I think it's Mercedes isn't it.
They have full level five but only in very specific areas like level three.
I thought they had ones where it was all five is no pedals no level.
Yeah no it was level four wasn't it.
It was where they've got the vehicles got everything but it's full hands off not looking and it's only in Geofence.
Technically level three could be hands off eyes off but I think it's only they're only approved up to like 40 or 50 miles per hour.
Yeah it's limited it's limited circumstances.
Yeah and it was like it doesn't work in the rain it doesn't I'm trying to pull it up.
This was 2024 becomes first automaker to sell autonomous cars in the U.S. that don't come with a requirement the drivers watch the road.
They were the first to do it but it was very specific it was like in fog it turns off and rain it turns off and low light it turns off into the sunset it turns off.
If you're not in these certain areas I don't think it got on the freeway was only in certain like it was like the on ramp to the freeway.
That's where it worked.
Yeah and basically when you're stuck in traffic because the speed like like if you're stuck in bumper to bumper traffic and you want to read the Wall Street Journal or whatever it'll do that.
Yeah as soon as the speed gets above I think like 40 or 50 miles an hour it makes you take over basically.
Yeah so yeah and it they took Mercedes took full responsibility so insurance wise Mercedes was on the hook at that point and that's you know key with these if you're going level four and no eyes required then somebody's got to be financially responsible when this thing hit somebody because it will hit a car like it accidents are going to happen you're going to be involved in something.
You know there was a what was it it was I think it was a Tesla that was driving down the road I saw it on social media and it I don't know if it was on self driving or what but they're driving down the road there's another car coming the other way somebody fell into the road.
And the Tesla swerves and does head on into another car.
And it's like it self driving or not like stuff's gonna happen like you can't this was no fault of the pedestrian triptom fell the car swerved in because you're gonna miss the person like.
It is so you can be full autonomous everything and the autonomous vehicles can be 100% accident free and everything until somebody trips and falls into the road right in front of you like.
You can't avoid it so somebody's got to be financially responsible and Mercedes I believe in that case was financially responsible but my point being Rivian don't waste time on that waste time.
Ramping R2 and so on to yes selling that get profitability and then if you're behind the ball later on on self driving slowly chip away at that with your profits and then license self driving from somebody else to get you there.
Because somebody else will have spent the money and somebody else will be willing to take your money and allow you to use it in your vehicle like a Google probably a Tesla eventually because I think they're gonna for a world of hurt now that they've licensed.
Nax out to everybody else and everybody else is coming out with these great vehicles I think Tesla is gonna be looking for a whole lot of licensing deals with stuff that they've got because they are one of the leaders in self driving.
So I think that you just need to go.
Well work on the car will see we'll see if RG listens to us or not.
Yep yep but I also think Rivian's taking the right road because.
What on the infotainment front.
Yes there's a lot going on there too and they are apparently.
Taking what was this they're dropping radios from the cars.
Well traditional radios.
The radio.
Well I mean if you're talking traditional and terrestrial and FM yes yes yes so you've only you're only going to be able to stream is this starting with the R2.
With the R2.
So Rivian digital radio.
I know if you're familiar with our I heart radio they're like.
Not quite but almost a broadcast monopoly in the US.
Yeah.
They own.
Every station.
Everything.
So they're they collaborate with Rivian on this for Rivian digital radio powered by I heart.
So it's basically an aggregator.
Now I basically.
I mean I can get this through basically like tuning tuning.
So I heart has two nins content to NIN is another kind of.
Radio station aggregator but anyway so I can tune in a station in upstate New York or Wyoming or whatever.
Anywhere in the country basically but.
It receives a signal through a cellular connection not.
Not traditional.
FM receiver.
So.
So from like a system standpoint this eliminates the need for a tuner chip.
So they're saving a couple bucks a car.
And the power draw I'm sure that that's got a power draw with it.
Yeah.
And power draw and I guess associated complications like electromagnetic interference.
That's I don't know if that's so much an issue but in the early days of EVs that was kind of an issue.
It's always been an issue.
My my Yukon that I referenced earlier has a DVD player in it and you can hear the the engine RPM through the DVD player when I'm playing it doesn't play through the stereo but it plays through the DVD player which is undoubtedly a grounding issue but it's it's bad.
It's a problem.
Yeah.
And then yeah you just put up with it you just put up with it because somewhere there's a ground that's gone and if you eliminate that you've eliminated that problem.
Yeah.
And so they've eliminated that.
Yeah.
So basically I mean I can tell you you know between tune in I mean I most of the stuff I listen to is on Sirius XM but I have to pay for a data on my Model 3 I have to pay for a data subscription to get all those streaming services.
Mm-hmm.
The rivian is claiming this will not require a paid subscription that the base the base package will be free.
For now.
But there's nothing they could easily pay wallet if they wanted.
Mm-hmm.
No that makes me go that's great.
That's great.
You know wonderful as long as you don't have to pay for it and you can do something that picks up radio stations all over the place.
That's fine.
You do get to some spots in America.
I've done tons of road trips around America and you hit spots where there is no cell service for hours.
Yeah.
If you're driving through I would end up going through a it was a Native American.
Reservation.
Reservation in I think New Mexico because I had to head south Albuquerque because the freeway went east of west got closed and it was hours without without a cell reception that wouldn't work necessarily in that case.
Let me talk about my Yukon some more.
Your 22 year old Yukon.
Yeah.
That has an on star button that doesn't work.
Because I was 2G.
Yeah.
And so this will not work eventually because the world moves on.
So this will be 4G whatever.
I want to see the archiving with 5G but.
But eventually in 20 years are we not on 7G.
Eventually this doesn't work.
That's what happens.
So it'll still have Bluetooth connection.
You'll still be able to connect your phone but eventually it won't work.
You are tied together with the technology of the cell phone technology of when this is produced.
This is unless maybe you can retrofit something else.
But you know look at your Tesla yours came with hardware 2.5.
You paid for the hardware 3 upgrade.
And now it's obsolete already.
And now that's obsolete and can you even go to 4?
It depends on what a blog you're reading.
Yes.
So I would say there's a significant chance you can't go to 4.
Which means they've stopped up.
They've arbitrarily decided your vehicle doesn't deserve an upgrade.
Yeah but I mean you could say that about computers.
I mean I was just going to say my new computer that I'm on is because Apple decided arbitrarily that this is now outdated.
They're not going to support it anymore.
Or even though it could run newer stuff.
Or the video platform we're recording on saying we're no longer supporting this.
Yes.
You have to move to this.
Yeah.
Even though it worked the week before.
They just make the arbitrary decision.
So this isn't just about Phil liking Terrestrial Radio.
Well what's kind of interesting just to kind of put it cherry on top of this.
There is an pending legislation in Congress that AM Radio for All something though.
That basically mandates AM radio receivers and cars.
Yeah.
And they were using the argument of safety for emergency.
For safety.
Public safety alerts this and that.
Right now it's kind of stalled out.
I don't know if there's any imminent plan to implement this.
And I don't know what the implications would be if review when we have to go back in retrofit.
And now that capability or just give an assurance that this will be remain free for the lifetime of the vehicle.
At such time it becomes obsolete.
They will replace it with a module that will receive a signal.
The other secondary thing and this is a whole other episode we could go down.
And you kind of know this too because you recently got this.
The trend toward satellite cellular.
So that could obviate the issue of like oh well you'll be out of range.
Hypothetically with satellite L.E.O. you know satellite service you would have basically universal coverage.
So except for you Rivian going to Congress and saying well we just think to deal with Starlink even though that's you know I don't think Tesla and Rivian kind of front of me but anyway.
Well but Amazon is working on their blue whatever it's called their Starlink.
Yeah.
Would they've got their story.
Yeah.
So they basically say this gives you universal coverage coast to coast.
It will remain free for the life of the vehicle and that'll be the loophole where they kind of I guess in a kind of a weird kind of way meet the spirit of the law not the letter.
That makes any sense.
Yeah.
But I don't think the AM radio is the emergency thing like initially I was on board with that argument but now like when they have that you know this is just a test that they brought.
So you're just wearing up on TV and radio on your cell phone.
Yeah.
So that's digitally.
That's exactly nobody is listening or watching the other things.
You're watching YouTube or streaming Netflix or Hulu or Disney Plus or whatever.
But your cell phone is now your emergency thing and in an emergency in California anyway when there's earthquakes they tell you you don't call you text because the text will constantly ping the network and try to send through.
So if you don't call that's a go no go.
But if you text it will sit and it will try to send constantly so they always say they tell you to text in the emergency.
Even the emergency response and like the newer cell phones the newer iPhones and androids.
If you're out hiking on a remote trail it's the the SOS function is text only.
Yeah.
So anyway.
Yeah.
That's a whole other discussion.
Yeah.
And this I don't really want to get into but this goes down the road of Rivian backed Rivian getting rid of stuff in that same interview.
RJ said about voice controls.
And he's like so if you say like open my garage or I'm hot the vehicle can interpret that into a constitutional way to respond like the garage opens or the AC comes on.
But I do think that this is going to layer in over time.
We look at those as being a parallel path like physical buttons versus voice.
So you can either go through the screen or you can go through a mechanical physical you can go through mechanical physical controls or you can talk to the car and it'll respond different demographics respond in different ways to this.
We're at an inflection point from a societal point view where we're starting to use voice more because suddenly it becomes a lot more capable and he talks about as well the cars now the voice control used to have to go to the cloud and now they can do it all in car.
So you can speak to the car and the car doesn't have to have to sell connection.
We've now got the ability to have full conversation on device and you don't need that.
So he's that's what he's saying.
But what it says is OK they're getting rid of the radio.
They're doing that now.
They're also going to get rid of everything else because that makes it cheaper.
You go software software divine vehicle.
It's going to be all done in the vehicle software.
Everything's going to be software based which is the trend.
It shows the direction that Rivian's going for go to bad.
However you think about that.
I personally like physical buttons but I also recognize that I like physical buttons because that's what I know.
And change is difficult and so I'm open to change.
But what I know is buttons.
So my knee jerk reaction is always this doesn't have buttons.
Thus I don't like like Tesla and some other vehicles.
You got to push buttons on the screens like three buttons to open your club box.
Just let me open the club box like there is no reason for that to redirect the way your vents go.
That now I got to go through a screen like two dials deep into a screen to change the direction or the air volume of the vents.
Like this doesn't make sense when a simple plastic mechanical thing.
The only where place it makes sense is dollar dollar wise which I still blows my mind that they can put in.
A little electronics little servos and that those are cheaper than just putting a little plastic slider that you move with your finger like that.
I don't understand how that was cheaper but apparently it is or it will be soon and so they're prepping for that.
So is Rivian going to make it?
That's the big question before we end.
Who knows.
I hope they do.
I still want my R3 but we'll see.
There's a lot going on.
The point of all of that is there's a lot going on with Rivian right now.
Like everything.
They are right now in an inflection point.
They are in a make or break point.
They are burning cash so fast.
They are looking at how can we stay in this market as cheaply as we can while also building toward the future with their autonomous development which is killing them financially.
They are in for unless the R2 just takes off overnight like they are getting millions of orders and they can somehow fulfill them and keep quality high.
Unless that happens they are yes very bumpy ride that they are in for.
They are set up for success and I think nowhere in that interview was craziness with RJ.
He was a straight shooter.
He was reasonable.
He was like yes we have challenges but.
Yeah and he's not unwilling to face those challenges.
It reminded me of a well-spoken Elon Musk from many years ago.
Before he went completely not so.
He was grounded and then I don't know maybe production hell changed him.
Maybe that's what broke him.
Maybe it was the Model 3 just broke him.
But I think RJ Scurringe is the right guy to lead the company.
I'm sure that other people could do it.
But I think he is not a bad person for doing that is just right now.
Can they make it through every.
They know they've got six months of cash just sitting at any given time like that's all they've got.
They got six months.
So they need to start selling R2s.
Yeah so everybody going by an R2.
You also go to the walkard.com slash store and you buy a D-shirt because we are burning cash like nobody's business.
We're not quite like Revian.
Not quite there.
We're not quite at the billion dollar supporter.
But we're in the tens of dollars that we're burning.
So buy a shooter at her water bottle.
About this episode
The hosts kick off with a quick “a few random items and then a whole bunch of Rivian” setup, then bounce through EV talk, BMW M3 history and design debates, and a few speculative EV/robotaxi concepts. The conversation ultimately settles into Rivian’s world: its R2-first roadmap, R3/R3 X timing uncertainty, profitability and cash-runway pressure, and why autonomous development costs matter. They also dig into Rivian’s digital radio approach, connected-car tradeoffs, and how fleet use can change what “range” even means.
Rivian is in the news! From R2 production to R3 expectations, radio features, CalTrans orders, and more, this week’s podcast is packed full of Rivian goodness. But before we get there, first we tackle the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse unveiling, Tesla Cybercab EPA figures, the promise of Telo production, and more!
