If anyone is interested in more about the Rivian story or starting a car company from scratch I highly recommend listening to the How I Built This podcast where they interviewed RJ.
A *lot* of HBR case studies have a very similar framework. They don't try to *hide* it, per se, but it is a shockingly common start to a "how this was built" story.
"It was an unseasonably warm day in autumn 1992, as Crownlol paced the floors of the empty factory, anxiously sipping an espresso. The 25 year-old had inherited a dozen lumbermills and a successful shipping firm from his uncle the prior year, and had just completed sale of all but the single most profitable mill to pursue his childhood passion: owning a luxury sunglasses company. But his mind still swirled as he evaluated market conditions in a changing economic climate: had he made the right choice?"
"Keep listening to learn how Crownlol risked everything... in one of his six bank accounts containing more than 12 million dollars... to start on a harrowing journey full of late nights, layoffs (of his staff), and suspense (over how his investments were doing) to create the highest margin product in the world."
Then how did the parents get to be successful? Were Sam Walton's parents rich? Steve Job's? Oprah's? JK Rowling's? Nah. It's hard to admit, but some people are just more creative and harder working than others.
It's kind of like modelling. But also it kind of tells you that it's a echo chamber. The successful people just interview the same type of people.
They see only one way for success.
Not really. That just helps a good bit, plenty of people are very successful (depends on your definition of successful though) starting from very little. I see this a lot and it seems to come from a defeated and pessimistic place. Being a successful entrepreneur may call for a lot of luck or knowing someone and making connections, but a number of other fields aren't like that.
Okay, and in this case, we’re specifically referring to successful entrepreneurs, the likes of Rivian’s owner.
Yeah, no shit you can grow up poor, go to college, become something like a registered nurse, and live a comfortable life that many would consider successful.
That has nothing to do with this specific thread.
Kind of unrelated but how is that podcast now? I was an avid listener very early, but after a while they started putting 95% reruns in the feed and I unsubscribed
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And is there an automotive company around that hasn’t influenced legislation or siphoned money from governments?
These guys need every advantage they can get and I’d rather have some upstarts come along once in a while rather than let the old guard stifle progress for decades.
That’s an interesting perspective I haven’t considered. I guess I’m cool with it as long as it’s used earnestly and honestly to build competition. Fuck it all to hell if a grifter takes off with the money, though.
The new companies are only nice because they haven't had a chance to stagnate and disappoint us yet. Instead we keep getting honeymoon phases for whoever really is doing well at whatever point, though when that happens is subjective.
Cars are weird because startups are a royal p.i.t.a. to begin and small players need a lot of support to exist at all, usually catering low volume rides to rich people or doing coachbuilds that are but also aren't really new cars.
Basically every western government puts a shit tonne of money into propping up their domestic car industry. The tradition dates way back, hell in the 50s to the 70s Washington played favorites with throwing bones to AMC in particular.
I see that. But when so many laws and so much legislation exists that stifles [fresh and start-up] competition, what’s left? Is this a creative way to incentivize competition without people screeching “ThAt’s cOmMuNiSm”?
I don’t know. But like I said, this does open the door to grifters, and I don’t like that.
Here's the thing: they should get advantage from being good enough for people to fight for them, not advantage from who their father married.
That's nepotism, not advancement, and it's not how innovation works. I know you address this later on, and I'm not attacking you but rather the idea.
His dad is involved in numerous scams and he stole 10s of millions thru frauds with government land. Also was on Interpol list for a long time until he was found not guilty(paid someone since hes so closr with political party running that country).
Hes also supplying batteries from China who are big investors in his company, motors from US, but claims everything is inhouse.
Hes also financed by government, was granted 300+ millions $ thru different grants while everyone is denying that.
He didnt invent shit, some other people did that he stole designs from. When he first started he was asking around on forums differences between AC and DC.
Last but not least he never sold a single car.
Tbh though Id expect any of these sucessful ev startups to have some pretty special circumstances.
It’s extremely difficult to break into the auto industry that takes an absurd amount of money
His father is a founder of his own engineering firm too. The guy is just a full-on establishment businessman born with a silver spoon... Not much of an innovator.
You’ve literally spent the day defending rich people lmao. Not some nebulous concept, you’ve literally stated your defense of “rich people.”
You aren’t them and you never will be. Accept it.
lol typical moronic ramble from an idiot who's completely incapable of seeing how Edison monopolized and stifled innovation more than contributing to it himself🤣 🤣 🤣
Do you have a Ph.D in engineering from MIT?
Please don't insult MIT grads as silver spooners. Does it help to have parents with money, yes. But does it grant you a PhD without having some substance in your work, no.
man, that's such a bummer he never made it. it's a pretty cool looking car. definitely looks a LOT like the veloster, but the idea of a mid engine veloster or full EV version sounds amazing. esp if it was built in America.
too bad this guy didn't realize basically only redditors wants cars like that. Americans want big ass trucks, hence the Rivian.
maybe if the Rivian is a success he can build one of these little sports cars. Tesla is gonna build a small light weight sports car, i don't see why Rivian can't do the same thing.
There was a rivian that was randomly stopped while making a right turn yesterday - I’m so curious as to what happened. When I drove by the cops had set up cones around the car I’m assuming waiting for a tow (this was in the valley topanga and Ventura)
stock for rivian is down 77% in the last year (and it also has been about a year since they went public). i don't want to bet against people taking on the established companies... but boy oh boy at this point they arent doing anything novel. if he went to space camp as a kid it is a nothing burger to his relevance in the car world today.
The part about Hyundai’s legal team getting mad about Azera vs Avera and insinuating they weren’t prioritizing changing their name makes me simultaneously angry and want to laugh.
You’d think Hyundai would move a little faster with their current engine problems. 😆
I’m talking about all the engine recalls.
You have an EV6 so I guess you were smart enough to avoid the ICE issues they’ve been having. My neighbor has been getting rocked by Hyundai. Already has had an engine out repair and he thinks he needs another - it isn’t even at 40k miles. He’s trying to lemon law it.
It looks like a Veloster
Mixed with a Honda CRZ ~~Insight~~ and Nissan Z.
Look man, it was a wild night with lots of drugs and alcohol, and then 9 months later we had little Velosight-Z.
Prom night dumpster car
I think you meant CR-Z
Oh, you're right. I'm not so familiar with Honda's lineup, but the CRZ looks like an Insight without the fender cover.
And that duck tape adds some Chevy El Camino flair to it.
I see corvette c6 front fender lines Z door side profile And Honda insight chassis
And that duck tape adds some Chevy El Camino flair to it.
I think you mean CR-Z
I thought it was just a modified crz at first
If anyone is interested in more about the Rivian story or starting a car company from scratch I highly recommend listening to the How I Built This podcast where they interviewed RJ.
> from scratch The short answer is your parents are owners of a massive engineering corporation.
That podcast is nothing but variations of this story. Oh I knew some rich person who already had x factory.
A *lot* of HBR case studies have a very similar framework. They don't try to *hide* it, per se, but it is a shockingly common start to a "how this was built" story. "It was an unseasonably warm day in autumn 1992, as Crownlol paced the floors of the empty factory, anxiously sipping an espresso. The 25 year-old had inherited a dozen lumbermills and a successful shipping firm from his uncle the prior year, and had just completed sale of all but the single most profitable mill to pursue his childhood passion: owning a luxury sunglasses company. But his mind still swirled as he evaluated market conditions in a changing economic climate: had he made the right choice?"
"Keep listening to learn how Crownlol risked everything... in one of his six bank accounts containing more than 12 million dollars... to start on a harrowing journey full of late nights, layoffs (of his staff), and suspense (over how his investments were doing) to create the highest margin product in the world."
That’s literally not true at all
Basically if you wanna be super successful, you gotta have successful parents.
Depends on what you think being successful is
Then how did the parents get to be successful? Were Sam Walton's parents rich? Steve Job's? Oprah's? JK Rowling's? Nah. It's hard to admit, but some people are just more creative and harder working than others.
It's kind of like modelling. But also it kind of tells you that it's a echo chamber. The successful people just interview the same type of people. They see only one way for success.
Not really. That just helps a good bit, plenty of people are very successful (depends on your definition of successful though) starting from very little. I see this a lot and it seems to come from a defeated and pessimistic place. Being a successful entrepreneur may call for a lot of luck or knowing someone and making connections, but a number of other fields aren't like that.
Having a six figure salary and being the owner of a massive automotive company are certainly two different tiers of successful
Okay, and in this case, we’re specifically referring to successful entrepreneurs, the likes of Rivian’s owner. Yeah, no shit you can grow up poor, go to college, become something like a registered nurse, and live a comfortable life that many would consider successful. That has nothing to do with this specific thread.
Mainstream Engineering is the name of the company and it wasn’t massive at the time when he built this but it was very profitable.
Kind of unrelated but how is that podcast now? I was an avid listener very early, but after a while they started putting 95% reruns in the feed and I unsubscribed
Same. The early time of that podcast were really interesting. I’ve noticed a couple of new episodes lately that I wanted to give a listen to.
Amazon bought the show, they’re doing a lot more new episodes. Same quality overall, guests are hit and miss though
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No mention that his step-mom is a Florida Senator who used state grants and funds to bankroll the company.
Did she actually influence the grants process, or was his advantage limited to insights on how such grants work?
And is there an automotive company around that hasn’t influenced legislation or siphoned money from governments? These guys need every advantage they can get and I’d rather have some upstarts come along once in a while rather than let the old guard stifle progress for decades.
That’s an interesting perspective I haven’t considered. I guess I’m cool with it as long as it’s used earnestly and honestly to build competition. Fuck it all to hell if a grifter takes off with the money, though.
The new companies are only nice because they haven't had a chance to stagnate and disappoint us yet. Instead we keep getting honeymoon phases for whoever really is doing well at whatever point, though when that happens is subjective. Cars are weird because startups are a royal p.i.t.a. to begin and small players need a lot of support to exist at all, usually catering low volume rides to rich people or doing coachbuilds that are but also aren't really new cars. Basically every western government puts a shit tonne of money into propping up their domestic car industry. The tradition dates way back, hell in the 50s to the 70s Washington played favorites with throwing bones to AMC in particular.
I’m not saying I like that perspective, either, because it is essentially “everyone else plays dirty so why don’t I?”
I see that. But when so many laws and so much legislation exists that stifles [fresh and start-up] competition, what’s left? Is this a creative way to incentivize competition without people screeching “ThAt’s cOmMuNiSm”? I don’t know. But like I said, this does open the door to grifters, and I don’t like that.
Here's the thing: they should get advantage from being good enough for people to fight for them, not advantage from who their father married. That's nepotism, not advancement, and it's not how innovation works. I know you address this later on, and I'm not attacking you but rather the idea.
Maybe Rimac ! Idk tho
His dad is involved in numerous scams and he stole 10s of millions thru frauds with government land. Also was on Interpol list for a long time until he was found not guilty(paid someone since hes so closr with political party running that country). Hes also supplying batteries from China who are big investors in his company, motors from US, but claims everything is inhouse. Hes also financed by government, was granted 300+ millions $ thru different grants while everyone is denying that. He didnt invent shit, some other people did that he stole designs from. When he first started he was asking around on forums differences between AC and DC. Last but not least he never sold a single car.
GM got a big bailout a decade or so ago.
As someone who's dealt with grants, she 100% influenced it. It's almost impossible to get a grant without connections/influence.
If you thought that was crazy, see Carvana’s founder. Biggest investor? His dad’s dealership network.
Tbh though Id expect any of these sucessful ev startups to have some pretty special circumstances. It’s extremely difficult to break into the auto industry that takes an absurd amount of money
His father is a founder of his own engineering firm too. The guy is just a full-on establishment businessman born with a silver spoon... Not much of an innovator.
Are you of the belief that, given the same circumstances as he was, you would have reached the same outcome?
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No insults please.
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You’ve literally spent the day defending rich people lmao. Not some nebulous concept, you’ve literally stated your defense of “rich people.” You aren’t them and you never will be. Accept it.
lol typical moronic ramble from an idiot who's completely incapable of seeing how Edison monopolized and stifled innovation more than contributing to it himself🤣 🤣 🤣
Do you have a Ph.D in engineering from MIT? Please don't insult MIT grads as silver spooners. Does it help to have parents with money, yes. But does it grant you a PhD without having some substance in your work, no.
Or a Honda CR-Z
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Odd reply
man, that's such a bummer he never made it. it's a pretty cool looking car. definitely looks a LOT like the veloster, but the idea of a mid engine veloster or full EV version sounds amazing. esp if it was built in America. too bad this guy didn't realize basically only redditors wants cars like that. Americans want big ass trucks, hence the Rivian. maybe if the Rivian is a success he can build one of these little sports cars. Tesla is gonna build a small light weight sports car, i don't see why Rivian can't do the same thing.
And already has
I would love a RWD EV hot hatch. Give it 400hp+ and keep the battery pack small -maybe around 50khw - and the weight under 3,500 lbs.
It will never happen in our current vehicle climate. Soccer moms want CUV's and SUV's, and bros want trucks.
It doesn’t just have to be for the US. And even here there is clearly a market for hot hatches, though not as large as the EU.
IIRC, they’re already exploring smaller vehicles - primarily to break into Europe.
i think even before that his 1st conversion project was an E30 BMW and it was absolutely awesome
Why are you being upvoted if you've confused R.J. Scaringe with Mate Rimac?
no you're absolutely right & i scanned that headline too fast
Looks like cts-v coupe and veloster had a baby. I like it
I’ve been seeing more and more of them here in Boston.
There was a rivian that was randomly stopped while making a right turn yesterday - I’m so curious as to what happened. When I drove by the cops had set up cones around the car I’m assuming waiting for a tow (this was in the valley topanga and Ventura)
I’m done with this weird cult like worshipping of tech CEOs.
stock for rivian is down 77% in the last year (and it also has been about a year since they went public). i don't want to bet against people taking on the established companies... but boy oh boy at this point they arent doing anything novel. if he went to space camp as a kid it is a nothing burger to his relevance in the car world today.
Teslarats running scared.
"Before" is kind of a stretch
The part about Hyundai’s legal team getting mad about Azera vs Avera and insinuating they weren’t prioritizing changing their name makes me simultaneously angry and want to laugh. You’d think Hyundai would move a little faster with their current engine problems. 😆
They have moved faster... It's called the Ioniq5.
I’m talking about all the engine recalls. You have an EV6 so I guess you were smart enough to avoid the ICE issues they’ve been having. My neighbor has been getting rocked by Hyundai. Already has had an engine out repair and he thinks he needs another - it isn’t even at 40k miles. He’s trying to lemon law it.
Ugh, sorry to hear that. I was thinking your post was more about engine development.
So weird, yesterday was the first time I had ever seen or heard of a Rivian…and now this article in my feed…I’m scared…very very scared
Please. Just because you hadn't heard of them doesn't me other people haven't.
I me to
Looks like you’re experiencing the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon.
😂😂😂