Rivian CEO Discusses R2 Stakes, Cybertruck, and Ferrari Luce
9 reported
In an interview with Wired, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe discussed the company’s financial challenges, the importance of its upcoming R2 SUV, and his views on other electric vehicles. Scaringe noted that Rivian lost $3.6 billion in 2025 and has spent nearly $25 billion over eight years. He stated that the company’s future depends on the success of the R2, and that if it fails, Rivian would need to reconfigure its business. Scaringe also commented on the Ferrari Luce, praising its interior design and buttons, and described the Tesla Cybertruck as a niche product that was never intended for the mass market. He acknowledged that early R1 customers were unhappy with the Gen 1 autonomy system being a dead end, but explained that the company reset its approach shortly after launch. Scaringe said the R2 will launch with a Gen 2.5 autonomy system, with a more advanced Gen 3 system using in-house silicon coming later.
What’s reported
Rivian lost $3.6 billion in 2025 and has spent nearly $25 billion over the past eight years.
Rivian has sold 175,000 cars since the R1 went on sale in 2021; Tesla sold 8 million in the same period.
Volkswagen Group committed up to $5.8 billion in 2024 to co-develop software with Rivian.
Uber announced it will invest up to $1.25 billion to build up to 50,000 autonomous robotaxis with Rivian.
Scaringe said the R2’s success is critical: “If R2 doesn’t work … we would have to really take a step back and really reconfigure the business.”
Scaringe described the Cybertruck as “very, very niche” and said it was “pretty clear from the beginning that it wasn’t going to be” a mass-market product.
Scaringe praised the Ferrari Luce’s interior, saying “parts of the interior are just phenomenal” and that “it’s just great to see more EV choice.”
The R2 will launch with a Gen 2.5 autonomy system; Gen 3 will use in-house silicon with 1,600 trillion operations per second and include lidar.
Scaringe said early R1 customers were unhappy that the Gen 1 autonomy system was a dead end, but the company reset its approach shortly after launch.
Key figures
RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian
Jeremy White, Wired interviewer
Jony Ive and Marc Newson, designers of the Ferrari Luce (mentioned by Scaringe)
Sources: Wired
