Winter is Coming...For Competitors
As Daenerys Stormborn rightful heir to the Iron Throne and Mother of Dragons I find myself strangely intrigued by this 'Rivian'. It seems they like myself are attempting to build something great something transformative. They speak of increasing vehicle deliveries a kind of conquest in the automotive realm and who am I to scoff at ambition? They aim for a 47% to 59% increase in deliveries which is akin to doubling my Unsullied army – a feat worthy of respect. Yet I recall the words of my wise advisor Ser Jorah Mormont: 'Ambition can be a dangerous thing Daenerys. It can blind you to the truth.' Let us hope Rivian's ambition is tempered with sound strategy unlike some of my past campaigns.
The R2: A Dragon in the Making
This 'R2' SUV is apparently their new dragon poised to breathe fire into their sales figures. RJ Scaringe their CEO believes it will be the 'majority of the volume' by the end of 2027. One might say he is betting the kingdom on this new beast or perhaps just a small village. I've seen my dragons grow and I know that nurturing a new power takes time resources and unwavering belief. But is this belief misplaced? We'll see. Speaking of great visionaries I'd say the article AI Titans Clash Anthropic's Pragmatic Play Versus OpenAI's Headline Grabs echoes the sentiments of RJ Scaringe as the modern titans clash in a battle of pragmatic implementations versus headline grabbing features.
Losing Battles Winning the War?
Ah losses. I am no stranger to them. I lost my brother my husband my dragons (temporarily of course). Rivian expects to lose between $1.8 billion and $2.1 billion in 2026. Such numbers would make even the Lannisters sweat. However they see this as a necessary sacrifice a 'foundational year'. It reminds me of when I crossed the Narrow Sea with nothing but three dragons and unwavering resolve. Sometimes one must endure hardship to reach the Iron Throne... or in this case profitability.
A Queen's Fortune: Liquidity and Strategy
With $6.59 billion in total liquidity Rivian seems to have enough gold to weather a few storms. I myself have learned the value of a well stocked treasury. Strategy is key. As Tyrion Lannister the Imp wisely said 'A Lannister always pays his debts.' I trust Rivian will use its capital wisely lest they face the wrath of the market which can be far more fearsome than any dragon. They need the dragon's hoard and the strategist's mind.
The Price of Power (and Electric Vehicles)
The R2 is expected to cost around $45,000 which is far less than the $70,000 price tag on their current models. Perhaps this is their way of reaching the common folk offering them a taste of the electric dream. I always believed that a ruler should care for all her subjects not just the wealthy elite. Though admittedly I did have a soft spot for fancy dresses. Rivian's move to cut build material costs in half also displays sound leadership as it will surely make their R2 model more attainable for the people.
Judgment Day: March 12th
Mark your calendars for on March 12th Rivian shall reveal the full details of the R2. Pricing options and more will be unveiled. It is a day of reckoning a moment of truth. Will the R2 live up to the hype? Will it be the dragon that Rivian needs to conquer the market? Only time will tell. But mark my words: I will be watching. After all a Queen must always be informed even about electric vehicles.
elmiko
I'm glad they're focusing on profitability. Growth at any cost isn't sustainable.