After shutting down its plant for upgrades, EV maker Rivian (RIVN) is warning that Q2 could be “messy.” Rivian’s CEO, RJ Scaringe, warned that Q2 will be messy at a fireside chat Thursday. Scaringe also discussed Tesla NACS adaptors and Rivian’s upcoming R2 and R3 vehicles.
Rivian has already accomplished a lot since its first vehicle, the R1T, rolled off the production line in 2021.
After Rivian’s vehicle sales doubled last year (YOY), topping 50,000, the EV maker is ready to enter its next growth stage. However, like the past few years, the road to get there likely won’t be smooth.
The luxury EV maker is already making a name for itself as the fourth best-selling electric car maker in the US. Rivian’s R1S electric SUV is the best-selling large SUV, electric or gas, in California.
According to Kelley Blue Book data, it was also the fourth best-selling EV in the US during the first three months of 2024. The R1S was only behind Tesla’s Model Y, Model 3, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Rivian R1S (Source: Rivian)
Despite the success, Rivian expects a slowdown in the second quarter. Rivian shut down production at its Normal, IL facility last month to “implement a whole host of changes,” according to Scaringe.
The upgrades “introduced a dramatic cost reduction in material costs,” Rivian’s CEO and Founder explained. Due to the shutdown, Scaringe warned that Q2 “is going to be messy.”
Rivian production at its Normal, Ill facility (Source: Rivian)
Despite being on a trajectory toward healthy positive gross margins in 2025, Rivian is still in the red to date.
Q3 ’22
Q4 ’22
Q1 ’23
Q2 ’23
Q3 ’23
Q4 ’23
Q1 ’24
Rivian loss per vehicle
$139,277
$124,162
$67,329
$32,594
$30,500
$43,372
$38,784
Rivian loss per vehicle by quarter
Rivian’s gross vehicle margins narrowed slightly to a $38,784 loss per vehicle in Q1 from a $43,472 loss per vehicle in Q4. However, gross margins are still higher than the $32K and $30K loss in Q2 and Q3 2023, respectively.
Although new supplier negotiations and production upgrades are expected to drastically lower Rivian’s bill of materials into 2025, the shutdown will significantly impact Q2 earnings.
Scaringe warned, “From an investor perspective, the second quarter’s going to be messy” due to the month-long shutdown.
Rivian R2 (Source: Rivian)
“We will deliver a very small percentage of these newer vehicles [in terms of cost] in Q2,” Scaringe explained. “You won’t see a lot of those benefits until you get to Q3.”
Meanwhile, Scaringe added that the upgrades are “contractual.” Rivian isn’t “hoping or wishing costs were lower,” these have been negotiated with suppliers over the last 24 months.
Rivian added 100s of new robots for automation and increased the line rate by 30%. It also went from “41 components in the battery pack down to 16.”
Rivian R1S production (Source: Rivian)
Scaringe said these improvements alone will create more efficiency and fewer hours per unit. In other words, the cost of goods sold is also being reduced.
Tesla NACS adoption and upcoming R2/R3
Rivian revealed its next-gen R2, a smaller and more affordable EV, in March. Scaringe also shocked the industry by introducing an even smaller and lower-cost R3 model.
Scaringe said the new models will greatly expand Rivian’s addressable market. The R2 will start in the “mid-$40,000s” compared to Rivian’s current $90,000 ASP.
Rivian R2 (Source: Rivian)
The R2 still “embodies the essence of Rivian,” Scaringe said, but Rivian had to make “trade-offs” to keep prices low. Some trade-offs could include features, content, and performance, but Scaringe doesn’t expect to impact customers too negatively.
For example, the R2’s suspension uses a strut, which is a lower-cost feature than what you find on the R1. The doors are also simpler, with a single piece of glass.
Scaringe said, “Every part must earn its way on the vehicle,” as it cuts costs. Rivian’s CEO explained that the R2 is not out to compete with Tesla’s best-selling Model Y; it is “competing with the 92% of customers who haven’t decided to go electric.”
Rivian R3X (Source: Rivian)
Rivian is expected to begin R2 production at its Normal, IL facility in the first half of 2026. Scaringe said the R2 scored over 68,000 reservations in less than 24 hours.
After Rivian began shipping R1 owners Tesla NACS adaptors last month, Scaringe said there was a shortage, but “those are shipping now.”
Scaringe added, “Over time, we will be switching to the NACS connector, along with moving our charging network over to that.” Rivian expects to incorporate NACS charge ports in R1T and R1S vehicles as standard in 2025.
Rivian owners can now access over 15,000 Tesla Superchargers, in addition to the 16,000 existing fast chargers they already have access to.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Forget fumbling with cables or hunting for batteries – TILER is making electric bike charging as seamless as parking your ride. The Dutch startup recently introduced its much-anticipated TILER Compact system, a plug-and-play wireless charger engineered to transform the user experience for e-bike riders.
At the heart of the new system is a clever combo: a charging kickstand that mounts directly to almost any e‑bike, and a thin charging mat that you simply park over. Once you drop the kickstand and it lands on the mat, the bike begins charging automatically via inductive transfer – no cable required. According to TILER, a 500 Wh battery will fully charge in about 3.5 hours, delivering comparable performance to traditional wired chargers.
It’s an elegantly simple concept (albeit a bit chunky) with a convenient upside: less clutter, fewer broken cables, and no more need to bend over while feeling around for a dark little hole.
TILER claims its system works with about 75% of existing e‑bike platforms, including those from Bosch, Yamaha, Bafang, and other big bames. The kit uses a modest 150 W wireless power output, which means charging speeds remain practical while keeping the system lightweight (the tile weighs just 2 kg, and it’s also stationary).
Advertisement – scroll for more content
TILER has already deployed over 200 charging points across Western Europe, primarily serving bike-share, delivery, hospitality, and hotel fleets. A recent case study in Munich showed how a cargo-bike operator saved approximately €1,250 per month in labor costs, avoided thousands in spare batteries, and cut battery damage by 20%. The takeaway? Less maintenance, more uptime.
Now shifting to prosumer markets, TILER says the Compact system will hit pre-orders soon, with a €250 price tag (roughly US $290) for the kickstand plus tile bundle. To get in line, a €29 refundable deposit is currently required, though they say it is refundable at any point until you receive your charger. Don’t get too excited just yet though, there’s a bit of a wait. Deliveries are expected in summer 2026, and for now are covering mostly European markets.
The concept isn’t entirely new. We’ve seen the idea pop up before, including in a patent from BMW for charging electric motorcycles. And the efficacy is there. Skeptics may wonder if wireless charging is slower or less efficient, but TILER says no. Its system retains over 85% efficiency, nearly matching wired charging speeds, and even pauses at 80% to protect battery health, then resumes as needed. The tile is even IP67-rated, safe for outdoor use, and about as bulky as a thick magazine.
Electrek’s Take
I love the concept. It makes perfect sense for shared e-bikes, especially since they’re often returning to a dock anyway. As long as people can be trained to park with the kickstand on the tile, it seems like a no-brainer.
And to be honest, I even like the idea for consumers. I know it sounds like a first-world problem, but bending over to plug something in at floor height is pretty annoying, not to mention a great way to throw out your back if you’re not exactly a spring chicken anymore. Having your e-bike start charging simply by parking it in the right place is a really cool feature! I don’t know if it’s $300 cool, but it’s pretty cool!
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Tesla has launched a new software update for its vehicles that includes the anticipated integration of Grok, but it doesnt even interface with the car yet.
Today, Tesla started pushing the update to the fleet, but there’s a significant caveat.
The automaker wrote in the release notes (2025.26):
Advertisement – scroll for more content
Grok (Beta) (US, AMD)
Grok now available directly in your Tesla
Requires Premium Connectivity or a WiFi connection
Grok is currently in Beta & does not issue commands to your car – existing voice commands remain unchanged.
First off, it is only available in vehicles in the US equipped with the AMD infotainment computer, which means cars produced since mid-2021.
But more importantly, Tesla says that it doesn’t send commands to the car under the current version. Therefore, it is simply like having Grok on your phone, but on the onboard computer instead.
Tesla showed an example:
There are a few other features in the 2025.26 software update, but they are not major.
For Tesla vehicles equipped with ambient lighting strips inside the car, the light strip can now sync to music:
Accent lights now respond to music & you can also choose to match the lights to the album’s color for a more immersive effect
Toybox > Light Sync
Here’s the new setting:
The audio setting can now be saved under multiple presets to match listening preferences for different people or circumstances:
The software update also includes the capacity to zoom or adjust the playback speed of the Dashcam Viewer.
Cybertruck also gets the updated Dashcam Viewer app with a grid view for easier access and review of recordings:
Tesla also updated the charging info in its navigation system to be able to search which locations require valet service or pay-to-park access.
Upon arrival, drivers will receive a notification with access codes, parking restrictions, level or floor information, and restroom availability:
Finally, there’s a new onboarding guide directly on the center display to help people who are experiencing a Tesla vehicle for the first time.
Electrek’s Take
Tesla is really playing catch-up here. Right now, this update is essentially nothing. If you already have Grok, it’s no more different than having it on your phone or through the vehicle’s browser, since it has no capacity to interact with any function inside the vehicle.
Most other automakers are integrating LLMs inside vehicles with the capacity to interact with the vehicle. In China, this is becoming standard even in entry-level cars.
In the Xiaomi YU7, the vehicle’s AI can not only interact with the car, but it also sees what the car sees through its camera, and it can tell you about what it sees:
Tesla is clearly far behind on that front as many automakers are integrating with other LLMs like ChatGPT and in-house LLMs, like Xiaomi’s.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Robinhood stock hit an all-time high Friday as the financial services platform continued to rip higher this year, along with bitcoin and other crypto stocks.
Robinhood, up more than 160% in 2025, hit an intraday high above $101 before pulling back and closing slightly lower.
The reversal came after a Bloomberg report that JPMorgan plans to start charging fintechs for access to customer bank data, a move that could raise costs across the industry.
For fintech firms that rely on thin margins to offer free or low-cost services to customers, even slight disruptions to their cost structure can have major ripple effects. PayPal and Affirm both ended the day nearly 6% lower following the report.
Despite its stellar year, the online broker is facing several headwinds, with a regulatory probe in Florida, pushback over new staking fees and growing friction with one of the world’s most high-profile artificial intelligence companies.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier opened a formal investigation into Robinhood Crypto on Thursday, alleging the platform misled users by claiming to offer the lowest-cost crypto trading.
“Robinhood has long claimed to be the best bargain, but we believe those representations were deceptive,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
The probe centers on Robinhood’s use of payment for order flow — a common practice where market makers pay to execute trades — which the AG said can result in worse pricing for customers.
Robinhood Crypto General Counsel Lucas Moskowitz told CNBC its disclosures are “best-in-class” and that it delivers the lowest average cost.
“We disclose pricing information to customers during the lifecycle of a trade that clearly outlines the spread or the fees associated with the transaction, and the revenue Robinhood receives,” added Moskowitz.
Robinhood is also facing opposition to a new 25% cut of staking rewards for U.S. users, set to begin October 1. In Europe, the platform will take a smaller 15% cut.
Staking allows crypto holders to earn yield by locking up their tokens to help secure blockchain networks like ethereum, but platforms often take a percentage of those rewards as commission.
Robinhood’s 25% cut puts it in line with Coinbase, which charges between 25.25% and 35% depending on the token. The cut is notably higher than Gemini’s flat 15% fee.
It marks a shift for the company, which had previously steered clear of staking amid regulatory uncertainty.
Under President Joe Biden‘s administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission cracked down on U.S. platforms offering staking services, arguing they constituted unregistered securities.
With President Donald Trump in the White House, the agency has reversed course on several crypto enforcement actions, dropping cases against major players like Coinbase and Binance and signaling a more permissive stance.
Even as enforcement actions ease, Robinhood is under fresh scrutiny for its tokenized stock push, which is a growing part of its international strategy.
The company now offers blockchain-based assets in Europe that give users synthetic exposure to private firms like OpenAI and SpaceX through special purpose vehicles, or SPVs.
An SPV is a separate entity that acquires shares in a company. Users then buy tokens of the SPV and don’t have shareholder privileges or voting rights directly in the company.
OpenAI has publicly objected, warning the tokens do not represent real equity and were issued without its approval. In an interview with CNBC International, CEO Vlad Tenev acknowledged the tokens aren’t technically equity shares, but said that misses the broader point.
“What’s important is that retail customers have an opportunity to get exposure to this asset,” he said, pointing to the disruptive nature of AI and the historically limited access to pre-IPO companies.
“It is true that these are not technically equity,” Tenev added, noting that institutional investors often gain similar exposure through structured financial instruments.
The Bank of Lithuania — Robinhood’s lead regulator in the EU — told CNBC on Monday that it is “awaiting clarifications” following OpenAI’s statement.
“Only after receiving and evaluating this information will we be able to assess the legality and compliance of these specific instruments,” a spokesperson said, adding that information for investors must be “clear, fair, and non-misleading.”
Tenev responded that Robinhood is “happy to continue to answer questions from our regulators,” and said the company built its tokenized stock program to withstand scrutiny.
“Since this is a new thing, regulators are going to want to look at it,” he said. “And we expect to be scrutinized as a large, innovative player in this space.”
SEC Chair Paul Atkins recently called the model “an innovation” on CNBC’s Squawk Box, offering some validation as Robinhood leans further into its synthetic equity strategy — even as legal clarity remains in flux across jurisdictions.
Despite the regulatory noise, many investors remain focused on Robinhood’s upside, and particularly the political tailwinds.
The company is positioning itself as a key beneficiary of Trump’s newly signed megabill, which includes $1,000 government-seeded investment accounts for newborns. Robinhood said it’s already prototyping an app for the ‘Trump Accounts‘ initiative.