Why I bought Rivian stock

Code generators are nothing new. Certainly AI is the game changer in the world, and has been around for a quite awile.
As of today, AI is not equipped to replace programmers; there are far to many limitations in its software generation capabilities.

Software needs will continue to develop.

You never know, Volkswagen is hurting alot just like Rivian. Maybe we just boosted your portfolio giving them ideas.
 
You never know, Volkswagen is hurting alot just like Rivian. Maybe we just boosted your portfolio giving them ideas.
VW is a legendary company. I am rooting for them. Both Deiss and Blume are great businessmen.
I see so many blaming so many things for VW's situation, but management is responsible for ongoing success of the company and the well being of their shareholders.

VW will get there but their head-in-the-sand approach to current realities needs to change. They are far behind on technology. Ask CEO Blume. The Rivian investment is good for both companies; they need each other.
 
VW is a legendary company. I am rooting for them. Both Deiss and Blume are great businessmen.
I see so many blaming so many things for VW's situation, but management is responsible for ongoing success of the company and the well being of their shareholders.

VW will get there but their head-in-the-sand approach to current realities needs to change. They are far behind on technology. Ask CEO Blume. The Rivian investment is good for both companies; they need each other.
Maybe they can introduce Phaeton II. V12’s are naturally balanced
 
You never know, Volkswagen is hurting alot just like Rivian. Maybe we just boosted your portfolio giving them ideas.
Just in Europe due to cheap Chinese cars which is killing everyone over there. I think Tesla July 2924 sales over there were down. Whopping 16% but that is another subject.

As I posted VW USA is killing it. VW US sakes for 2023 were UP 9,3%. That is amazing performance and just posting to keep things in perspective.
 
Maybe they can introduce Phaeton II. V12’s are naturally balanced
The $100k VWs didn't do well the first time around.
It seems that if people spend that much on a car, they want a more prestigious badge on the grill.
They own the Bentley badge, maybe people would want that.
 
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Just in Europe due to cheap Chinese cars which is killing everyone over there. I think Tesla July 2924 sales over there were down. Whopping 16% but that is another subject.

As I posted VW USA is killing it. VW US sakes for 2023 were UP 9,3%. That is amazing performance and just posting to keep things in perspective.
Blame Siri text to speech for those mistakes above, geez... but can't go back and edit. AI my foot, maybe one day text to speech will work like it should.:unsure:
 
I'm no technical trader but it looks like the bottom is firmly in for RIVN, over nearly 2 years now. Add in these facts:

- They expect gross profit in Q4

- Production costs are coming down, everything is being simplified

- They're using LFP batteries

- Most (every?) other EV truck manufacturer is struggling

... and it looks like a buy to me.

Cheap enough to take a slight gamble.
If it pays off, you're a genius.
If it doesn't, you use the loss to offset your gains one year.

RIVN_09_06_2024.webp
 
VW is a legendary company. I am rooting for them. Both Deiss and Blume are great businessmen.
I see so many blaming so many things for VW's situation, but management is responsible for ongoing success of the company and the well being of their shareholders.

VW will get there but their head-in-the-sand approach to current realities needs to change. They are far behind on technology. Ask CEO Blume. The Rivian investment is good for both companies; they need each other.
I think VW is just struggling to find their niche in this current market. They were the darling for small, smartly packaged, fun, and efficient cars for many years and it's just a market that isn't in high demand anymore. I think they can find a good spot for themselves, but the issue I see is that they've went to mostly SUVs and crossovers and are just blending into the landscape. They're great vehicles still and if I needed an SUV I'd strongly consider an Atlas because I already like the brand, but it really doesn't do something special any other SUV of that size does other than have a VW badge and a bit of a traditional modern VW look.

The Rivian move should be a great step forward. I think VW can do great things in the EV segment and what they've done on their own so far hasn't grabbed attention. I'd like to see a bit of that Rivian performance approach make an EV Arteon or revive the Passat name. The dream is an EV Golf R that has an under 3 second 0-60. VW has been timid with their EV performance aspirations and no one else has. I don't think another crossover with a VW badge is it though. They're destined to be a background player in the US market with the current lineup. We no longer have standard Golfs. At least the regular Jetta still exists. I've seen 3 new ones in town with temp tags in the last week. It's a brand I've always loved and I'd be very happy to see them do great things.

The $100k VWs didn't do well the first time around.
It seems that if people spend that much on a car, they want a more prestigious badge on the grill.
They own the Bentley badge, maybe people would want that.
That was the basis for the Bentley W12 cars. The Phaeton was the test bed. Piech wanted a premium VW, but the market didn't support it. It was good enough to be a Bentley which made the experiment a success in the end, just not the way he planned.
 
I see a lot of comments in here about VW and its struggles ? I try to understand what we are posting about.
Let’s keep in mind VW USA sales were UP almost double digits in 2023 at 9.3

I’m sure Tesla wished they could have in the USA or did they? Who knows? They don’t report USA sales and trying to find it on the internet is clouded in avoiding the number.

But either way VW 9.3% growth is nothing to sneeze at and I am posting this because this is one of those internet “things”. Some people might think they are doing bad here in the USA

Oh!!!! BTW - VW USA 2024 1st quarter sales were up 21% AND VW 2nd quarter 2024 sales were up 31%

These numbers would have had Elon Musk salivating compared to Tesla, VW is killing them in this country

@Torrid @JeffKeryk
 
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The OP @ME_Andy has me hooked on watching Rivian :unsure:
I see they have a number of things in the pipeline. I like what little I know about the CEO. They have recently lost a lot of top level management but maybe that is a good thing?
and ... I see Rivian is tops in customer satisfaction among all EV makers.

2026 they have new more affordable SUVs coming out. Seem like they are on the right track IF they dont run out of money. I certainly believe in their thoughts on the future product line much more than Tesla's, Im an SUV person like a lot of Americans. In fact Rivian CEO purposely did not go after Tesla's segment. Very interesting stuff.

On the flip side roughly 46% of Americans that own EVs would consider switching back to gasoline. That is sad.
Here is the source, one must read carefully. I find it very interesting being EVs are doing well overseas that it is hard to find stories with ONLY our country (the USA) they mix in the poor USA numbers with the good overseas numbers. I feel like it's another mass-media snow job. I mean even Tesla doesnt and never has released USA sales numbers. Yet everyone else does.
https://insideevs.com/news/726008/mckinsey-study-half-ev-buyers/

Still, I am not at all knocking Rivian. They seem to have something keeping them alive and focused on future products. Almost like when Tesla started out but Rivian moving to cash positive over a decade sooner than Tesla did. IF things keep going ok.
 
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I see a lot of comments in here about VW and its struggles ? I try to understand what we are posting about.
Let’s keep in mind VW USA sales were UP almost double digits in 2023 at 9.3

I’m sure Tesla wished they could have in the USA or did they? Who knows? They don’t report USA sales and trying to find it on the internet is clouded in avoiding the number.

But either way VW 9.3% growth is nothing to sneeze at and I am posting this because this is one of those internet “things”. Some people might think they are doing bad here in the USA

Oh!!!! BTW - VW USA 2024 1st quarter sales were up 21% AND VW 2nd quarter 2024 sales were up 31%

These numbers would have had Elon Musk salivating compared to Tesla, VW is killing them in this country

@Torrid @JeffKeryk
VW's financial performance is poor. They are the core brand which include brands like Porsche and Audi.
High costs and low productivity have rendered the Volkswagen brand less competitive in comparison to its counterparts. Thomas Schaefer, the company's brand chief, addressed this issue during a staff meeting at the company's headquarters in Wolfsburg.

As you say, the VW brand has consistently achieved high sales volumes, but its operating profit margins have been the lowest among the group’s mass-market brands.

Margins are in the 3% range. CEO Blume has spoken to this over the last 2 years. He said something like "we have a year or two to fix this problem". Blume's goal is to achieve the 6% range by fiscal 2026. His factories are old and inefficient with high procurement costs. The strategy is focused on boosting productivity by streamlining processes and eliminating redundancy.

The Rivian partnership could jump start VW's EV initiatives and give Rivian a European presence. Does VW have $5B in spare change? Well, it will be a huge commitment.

By the way, your "46% of Americans that own EVs would consider switching back" came from a dealership survey. Tesla does not have dealerships. Tesla owners love their cars.
 
VW's financial performance is poor. They are the core brand which include brands like Porsche and Audi.
High costs and low productivity have rendered the Volkswagen brand less competitive in comparison to its counterparts. Thomas Schaefer, the company's brand chief, addressed this issue during a staff meeting at the company's headquarters in Wolfsburg.

As you say, the VW brand has consistently achieved high sales volumes, but its operating profit margins have been the lowest among the group’s mass-market brands.

Margins are in the 3% range. CEO Blume has spoken to this over the last 2 years. He said something like "we have a year or two to fix this problem". Blume's goal is to achieve the 6% range by fiscal 2026. His factories are old and inefficient with high procurement costs. The strategy is focused on boosting productivity by streamlining processes and eliminating redundancy.

The Rivian partnership could jump start VW's EV initiatives and give Rivian a European presence. Does VW have $5B in spare change? Well, it will be a huge commitment.

By the way, your "46% of Americans that own EVs would consider switching back" came from a dealership survey. Tesla does not have dealerships. Tesla owners love their cars.
Talking VW USA sales numbers not an analytical evaluation of its financials or your personal evaluation on how a company should operate.. We can go in-depth into Tesla's issues too but Im sticking to sales numbers. I mean, sales numbers are the bottom line, everything else is typical smoke and mirrors. Of which Tesla hides its USA numbers, although secondary companies provide what seems accurate numbers.

Any documentation to back up your statement as far as a "dealership" survey? Your response is kind of bizarre :unsure: But maybe you can provide something as in-depth as this?

https://executivedigest.sapo.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mobility-Consumer-Pulse-2024_Overview.pdf

and this is the company doing the above study
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKinsey_&_Company
 
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That's fine, but ignores VW's financial problems. What good are sales if a company badly misses financial goals? VW is a for profit company. Importantly, Europe is by far VW's biggest market.
Because high sales are what sinks its competition. Basic marketing
BTW- Tesla sells more cars in Europe and China than the USA and Tesla doesnt come close to VW sales numbers, heck Tesla isnt even in the top ten in the world.

You can pick apart a company by ignoring its sales with smoke and mirrors... how about this one?
July 23 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab on Tuesday reported its lowest profit margin in more than five years and missed Wall Street earnings targets in the second quarter
https://www.reuters.com/business/au...prise-rise-second-quarter-revenue-2024-07-23/
 
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I see a lot of comments in here about VW and its struggles ? I try to understand what we are posting about.
Let’s keep in mind VW USA sales were UP almost double digits in 2023 at 9.3

I’m sure Tesla wished they could have in the USA or did they? Who knows? They don’t report USA sales and trying to find it on the internet is clouded in avoiding the number.

But either way VW 9.3% growth is nothing to sneeze at and I am posting this because this is one of those internet “things”. Some people might think they are doing bad here in the USA

Oh!!!! BTW - VW USA 2024 1st quarter sales were up 21% AND VW 2nd quarter 2024 sales were up 31%

These numbers would have had Elon Musk salivating compared to Tesla, VW is killing them in this country

@Torrid @JeffKeryk
I hope it continues to be honest. It’s still my preferred brand at this time. It’s been down awhile before it got here. So far it seems they’re making crossovers people like and catering to the enthusiast too. They lost the fight with overall corporate on the manual, but saved the GTI/R/GLI in the US. The Jetta GLI did save the manual because the car we get is a US only model. I’m seeing more new VWs day by day and that makes sense with these numbers

They haven’t done well with EVs so far. My dealer is sitting on a lot of them here. The new models seem to be slow to release too. Not as slow as the Cybertruck though. 😂

Enthusiasts still paint VW as giving up on the core, but not supporting them will only make it worse. The GTI/R refresh is a step in the right direction even with the loss of the manual, but most complain louder. I still keep thinking of getting the new model in the next couple years. We should see it in 2025.
 
This is like that guy who put the inheritance from his grandmother into Intel stock only to watch it continue to dive.
 
This is like that guy who put the inheritance from his grandmother into Intel stock only to watch it continue to dive.
So you would believe Tesla will continue to dive too?
(I do think that is possible btw)
In Rivian though, they do say they expect to see a break even or profit at the end of the year and new SUV products coming out for 2026.
 
At least on the retail side, they're starting to look the part
In the trendier part of South Williamsburg, of course 🙄
I'm seeing more ads for test drives on Facebook
Maybe I'll book a test drive 🤔 even though it's out of my price range 😕

At their other lot, they have their own fleet of flatbeds for home delivery and trade in pickup
There's an orderly line of Model S/3, and some late model X3/X5 BMWs that were traded in 🤔

It's giving Tesla Gallery circa 2015
I hope they make it, Tesla needs independent competition
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