#70 - Rivian R2 Launch, $300K Land Cruiser LC79, Car CEO Shake Ups, Listener Questions & MORE!
About this episode
The hosts dive into Rivian's recent R2 launch, expressing surprise and frustration over the delayed and higher-than-expected pricing compared to initial promises. They discuss Rivian's smart but slow approach to market rollout, influencer marketing strategies, and how the company mirrors legacy automakers in delays despite being forward-thinking. The episode also highlights the launch of a $300K Land Cruiser LC79, CEO shake-ups in the automotive world, and the creation of a new Clutch Culture Discord community for fans to connect and share insights. The conversation blends critique with appreciation for Rivian's innovation and design.
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F-150 Raptor
"...njoy the show. So am I going to have to sell the Raptor and buy a Rivian? Yeah, I don't think that's comi..."
rear wheel drive
"And then next year in 28, the R2 would add a rear wheel drive variant, two batteries for 46. So I'll ask everybody this question. If R2 is to make a splash, and I'm sure there's supply chain reasons or some reason they would give corporately, why isn't it reverse? Right."
Rear wheel drive means the car's engine powers the back wheels to make it move. This can help the car handle better, especially when driving fast or carrying heavy loads.
Rear wheel drive (RWD) is a drivetrain layout where the engine's power is sent to the rear wheels of the vehicle. This setup often provides better handling balance and is common in performance and truck applications.
$7,500 EV tax credit
"...Come on. It's, it's the $7,500 went away. You guys don't see it as an EV friendly environment..."
The $7,500 EV tax credit is money the government gives you back when you buy an electric car, making it cheaper. If this credit goes away, electric cars can seem more expensive.
The $7,500 EV tax credit is a government incentive in the U.S. that reduces the cost of qualifying electric vehicles by up to $7,500 to encourage adoption. Changes or removal of this credit can significantly affect EV sales and manufacturer strategies.
horsepower
"... 2027 Rivian R2 will launch with 656 horsepower and cost under $60,000..."
Horsepower tells you how strong a car's engine or motor is. More horsepower means the car can go faster and accelerate quicker.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement for engine power, indicating how much work an engine can perform. In electric vehicles like the Rivian R2, horsepower reflects the power output of the electric motors, affecting acceleration and performance.
electric vehicle (EV)
"... The R2 seems like something that EV fans and people that are just interested like, Hey, I might dip my toe into an EV. I think Rivian's a great choice..."
An electric vehicle is a car that runs on electricity instead of gas. It uses batteries to power the motor and doesn't produce smoke or pollution from the tailpipe.
An electric vehicle (EV) is a car powered entirely or primarily by electric motors using energy stored in batteries, rather than a traditional internal combustion engine. EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions and are becoming increasingly popular as alternatives to gasoline cars.
legacy car companies
"... Rivian, who has done a lot of things differently in their way is still following the trends of legacy car companies in this fashion of taking forever to get to the goddamn point..."
Legacy car companies are old, traditional car makers that have been around a long time. They usually make gas-powered cars and can be slower to change or try new ideas compared to new electric car companies.
Legacy car companies refer to established traditional automakers that have been producing vehicles for many decades, often relying on internal combustion engines and conventional business models. These companies sometimes face criticism for slower innovation compared to newer, forward-thinking electric vehicle startups.
Tesla Model Y
"affordable Rivian. Yeah. And I like having the sub headline they even say here, you know, offers value that threatens the Tesla Model Y and performance that challenges the segment elite."
The Tesla Model Y is a well-known electric SUV that many people like because it can go far on a charge and drives well.
The Tesla Model Y is a popular electric compact SUV known for its range, performance, and technology. It is a benchmark in the electric vehicle market that many new EVs aim to compete with.
six-figure experience
"Yeah, I know. I mean, Rivian's early trucks were going for $75,000. You got into their trucks and you go, how are they making money? Yeah, it was like a six-figure experience. This is a six-figure experience."
When someone says 'six-figure experience,' they mean the car costs over $100,000, which is very expensive and usually means it's a fancy or special vehicle.
The term 'six-figure experience' refers to a vehicle priced in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, indicating a luxury or high-end product. Early Rivian trucks were considered six-figure experiences due to their high price points.
Rivian
"...they're out in MacBook Neo. Yeah, then they're out in a Rivian. Yeah. And you go, well, this doesn't add up..."
Rivian makes electric trucks and SUVs that are good for outdoor adventures. They focus on making cars that run on electricity instead of gas.
Rivian is an American electric vehicle manufacturer known for its electric pickup trucks and SUVs focused on adventure and off-road capabilities. The brand is notable for its emphasis on sustainable and innovative electric vehicle technology.
Chrysler
"So speaking of these CEOs and C suites and executives and whatnot. So Chrysler and Alpha, North America CEO, abruptly exits Stalantis..."
Chrysler is a well-known American car company that makes cars and vans. It is now part of a bigger company called Stellantis.
Chrysler is a major American automotive brand known for producing a range of passenger cars and minivans. It is part of the Stellantis group, which formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group.
Stellantis
"So speaking of these CEOs and C suites and executives and whatnot. So Chrysler and Alpha, North America CEO, abruptly exits Stalantis as Dodge boss takes over both..."
Stellantis is a big car company that owns many different car brands like Chrysler and Dodge. It was made when two big car companies joined together.
Stellantis is a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group. It owns multiple brands including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and others.
Dodge
"...and essentially they put in a guy that's been at Dodge for a long time. He was running Dodge. What's his choice? Well, he's running both now, right?"
Dodge is a car company from America that makes fast and powerful cars, like muscle cars and SUVs.
Dodge is an American automotive brand famous for its performance cars, muscle cars, and SUVs. It is also part of Stellantis and known for models like the Charger and Challenger.
Chrysler Pacifica
"they were like, she had one job, one vehicle. It was the Chrysler Pacifico. And it was, yeah, you can just guess what the rest of them kind of went for for Ms. Chris here."
The Chrysler Pacifica is a type of family van made by Chrysler. It's popular because it has lots of space and useful features for families.
The Chrysler Pacifica is a minivan produced by Chrysler, known for its family-friendly features and modern technology. It represents one of the key models in Chrysler's lineup and is often seen as a flagship for the brand's minivan segment.
C-suite
"that's very rare at the C-suite level like this. And all the comments were ruthless because they were like, she had one job, one vehicle."
'C-suite' means the top bosses in a company, like the CEO who runs everything. They make the big decisions.
The term 'C-suite' refers to the highest-level executives in a company, such as the CEO, CFO, and COO. These roles are responsible for major strategic decisions and overall company leadership.
private equity
""If people are building $10 million car washes in the private equity market, you can find, you can find money. This is not the silver private equity, although we talk about it...""
Private equity means groups of investors who buy companies to try to make them better and then sell them for a profit. In car business, they might buy car dealerships or factories to help them grow.
Private equity refers to investment funds that buy and restructure companies that are not publicly traded. In the automotive context, private equity firms often invest in car dealerships, manufacturing, or related businesses to improve profitability or prepare them for resale.
private credit
""Such a shit show now. Private credit. I know it's a whole other topic, but it does involve cars at a certain point.""
Private credit means money lent to companies by private groups instead of banks. Car companies and dealerships sometimes use this kind of loan to keep running or grow.
Private credit involves non-bank lending where private funds provide loans to companies, often used in leveraged buyouts or restructuring. It plays a role in automotive industry financing, especially in dealership acquisitions and brand bankruptcies.
bankruptcy
""Look at the what was it called first brands look at their bankruptcy. That's all private credit related.""
Bankruptcy is when a company can't pay its bills and asks the court for help to fix or close the business. Some car brands have had to do this to survive.
Bankruptcy is a legal process where a company unable to meet its financial obligations seeks protection and restructuring or liquidation. In the automotive industry, several brands have gone through bankruptcy, often involving private credit lenders.
shadow banking system
"It's just a credit market that you don't deal with as a consumer. Yeah. It's a shadow banking system that most people aren't aware of."
Shadow banking means there are places that lend money or do financial business but aren't regular banks you know about.
The shadow banking system refers to financial intermediaries and credit markets that operate outside traditional banking regulations and are not directly visible to consumers.
Cox Automotive
"I know you're, you always keep up with it and you read about it. Uh, the Cox Automotive family, that right, like that, they own everything."
Cox Automotive is a big company that helps sell and manage cars by owning lots of services like car auctions and websites where people buy cars.
Cox Automotive is a major automotive services company that owns and operates many key businesses in the car sales and service ecosystem, including vehicle auctions, dealer management systems, and automotive marketplaces.
Mannheim
"So you saw that one too. That they own Mannheim. They own all the CRMs. They own all the credit, you know,"
Mannheim is a place where car dealers buy and sell used cars to each other, not usually to regular people.
Mannheim is a large wholesale vehicle auction company owned by Cox Automotive, where dealers buy and sell used cars in bulk.
CRM
"So you saw that one too. That they own Mannheim. They own all the CRMs. They own all the credit, you know,"
CRM is a type of computer program that helps car dealers keep track of customers and sales.
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management, software used by dealerships to manage customer interactions, sales, and service processes.
AutoTrader
"They own Kelly blue book. They own auto trader. Those are customer facing, but their real power is in the behind the scenes."
AutoTrader is a website where people can look for cars to buy or sell their cars.
AutoTrader is an online marketplace for buying and selling new and used cars, owned by Cox Automotive.
Kelley Blue Book
"They own Kelly blue book. They own auto trader. Those are customer facing, but their real power is in the behind the scenes."
Kelley Blue Book is a company that tells you how much a car is worth when you want to buy or sell it.
Kelley Blue Book is a well-known vehicle valuation and automotive research company that provides pricing information for new and used cars.
Carvana
"Is it the Carvana or family or whoever? Okay, yeah, yeah, that, which by the way, that Carvana situation could be, yeah, allegedly, always allegedly, you know, allegedly you could see some real shaky things come out."
Carvana is a company where you can buy used cars online and have them delivered to your home without going to a dealership.
Carvana is an online used car retailer known for its e-commerce platform that allows customers to buy used cars entirely online, including home delivery and touchless transactions.
CarMax
"But when, if that start, look, we all have to say this. I mean, CarMax is in serious trouble. I mean, you know, when you see CarMax, which is an institution that's really been pretty good in the marketplace for a long time now, they're, they're in real trouble. I mean, they basically are just sitting on loads and gobs of inventory. And the reason they're not lowering the price any more than they have is because the replacement costs, they can't go out and buy the cars."
CarMax is a big company that sells used cars with fixed prices so you don't have to bargain, and they have many cars to choose from.
CarMax is a large used car retailer in the United States known for its no-haggle pricing and large inventory of used vehicles. It is considered an institution in the used car market.
Porsche 911 (997)
"Let's just say I want to get, you know, a 997 Porsche, and it feels overpriced to me, which I agree it is."
The Porsche 911 (997) is a popular sports car made between 2004 and 2012. It looks like older 911s but has newer features and is fun to drive.
The Porsche 911 (997) is the generation of the iconic Porsche 911 sports car produced from 2004 to 2012. It is known for its blend of classic 911 styling with modern performance and technology.
Toyota Mark IV Supra
"Okay. You go buy a Mark IV Supra. They weren't that great out of the box. There's a build list already by the time you buy it. Yeah, I mean, to get what you want, what you've seen on the internet, you're modifying the hell out of that car,"
The Toyota Mark IV Supra is a popular sports car from the 1990s that people often change parts on to make it faster or better.
The Toyota Mark IV Supra is the fourth generation of the Supra sports car, produced from 1993 to 2002. It is well-known for its strong aftermarket support and tuning potential, often requiring modifications to reach high performance levels.
turbocharged
"Under the hood is a turbocharged built 1fz engine making 500 horsepower to the rear wheels."
Turbocharging is a way to make an engine more powerful by pushing extra air into it using a small fan powered by the engine's exhaust.
Turbocharging is a method of forced induction that uses exhaust gases to spin a turbine, compressing air into the engine to increase power output significantly. It allows smaller engines to produce more horsepower and torque.
Pagani
"she was in Italy and she, her and her husband and her son were getting a tour of the Pagani factory. And what was interesting was seeing how many Pagani's were getting made at once."
Pagani is a company that makes very expensive and special sports cars. They build only a few cars, and each one is made just for the person who buys it.
Pagani is an Italian manufacturer of high-performance hypercars known for their exclusivity, bespoke craftsmanship, and extreme attention to detail. Their cars are often custom-built in limited numbers for wealthy clients worldwide.
Ford F-150 Raptor
"They'll just buy a raptor. Yeah. They'll just buy, or buy three, four raptors, five raptors."
The Ford Raptor is a tough truck made for driving fast on rough dirt roads and trails. It has a strong engine and special parts to help it handle bumpy places.
The Ford Raptor is a high-performance off-road pickup truck designed for rugged terrain and high-speed desert running. It is popular in the United States and known for its powerful engine and specialized suspension.
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