RJ ScaringeFounder & CEO

I knew from around the age of ten that I wanted to build a car company. Cars fascinated me from an early age, and I spent a lot of time working on engines and rebuilding vehicles. After studying mechanical engineering and completing my PhD, I decided to pursue the vision directly and started Rivian the very next day.

I understood the chances of success were extremely low because building a car company requires massive amounts of capital, talent, technology, and infrastructure. However, I believed that if it succeeded, the impact could be enormous. The possibility of creating meaningful change was worth taking the risk.

Looking far into the future, it became clear that transportation would eventually move toward electrification. Electric vehicles offer efficiency, renewable energy compatibility, better driving dynamics, and a cleaner long-term path. We wanted to help accelerate that transition by creating products that people would genuinely be excited to own.

We wanted Rivian to stand for something authentic. Our vision centered around enabling and inspiring adventure. That can mean camping or off-roading, but it can also mean family trips, outdoor activities, or simply saying yes to new experiences. That philosophy shaped how we designed our vehicles.

Adventure is broader than many people think. It is about exploring new experiences, spending time outdoors, and creating opportunities for discovery. Whether it is a road trip, a family outing, or simply trying something unfamiliar, adventure is about embracing possibility.

You need everything at once. You need capital, suppliers, engineers, manufacturing facilities, technology, product design, and a clear strategy. The challenge is that when you start, you typically have none of those things. Building all of those capabilities simultaneously is incredibly difficult.

Fossil fuels played an essential role in helping society reach where it is today, but they are a finite resource. Long term, humanity will need to transition to alternative energy sources. Transportation will increasingly rely on renewable energy, new technologies, and more sustainable systems.

It will take decades and require multiple solutions. Solar energy, nuclear power, energy storage, and emerging technologies will all play important roles. This is not a transition that happens overnight, but the direction is clear because current energy resources are limited.

Choice and accessibility are critical. Today, many consumers still have limited EV options. Rivian launched with premium vehicles, but products like the upcoming R2 are designed to bring our technology and brand to a much larger audience at a more accessible price point.

Absolutely. When you compare the number of internal combustion vehicles available to the number of compelling EV choices, there is still a significant gap. Expanding the variety of vehicles available at different price points will help drive broader adoption.