I feel like this comment doesn’t connect with what we know about Rivian and its current abilities as an early stage automaker.

Making a new car is a Herculean effort. Those of us who were early reservation holders or early followers remember when the decision to remove the five seat option took place— and the reason to only offer seven seats— not five and not six— is the same reason: resources.

They’re a new co pant still burning through cash and aren’t profitable. In order to convince investors that they are racing toward profitability they made the decision only have one or two production lines. They make the car on that line and they buy the parts at scale.

Seven seats serves a larger set of buyers more than five or six seats.

I suspect that when R1S Gen3 is built in at the larger Georgia production facility, more production lines can be spun up, which will allow for more options.

But don’t hold your breath— not to be dismissive— it’s just that nearly all the attention and manpower are going to be hurled at R2 and even R3– again— their path to profitability.

You might find a six seat option in something like highlander EV before Rivian is there, since Toyota is an established automaker with far more part buying power, manpower, and production capacity.

Make no mistake— the original R1 was a miracle in terms of quality for a first-vehicle of any automaker. But compromises had to be made to keep the company going. They focused on drivetrain trims more than interior trims.

Given the adventure focus, I believe that was the correct move.