Rivian’s (RIVN) stock is trending again after the EV maker earned a big analyst upgrade on Monday. With a “massive market opportunity” ahead of it, Rivian may have what it takes to be a real player in the EV market.
Rivian stock bounces after analyst praise
With a unique brand, differentiated tech, and backing from Amazon and Volkswagen, Rivian stands out from the EV startup crowd.
According to Benchmark Securities, Rivan has the potential to capture a significant share of the “massive market opportunity” over the next few years.
The analyst firm initiated coverage on Rivian stock with a Buy Rating and $18 price target (via Barrons), suggesting a potential 28% upside from its previous $14 closing price.
After shutting down its Normal, IL plant in April for several months for upgrades, Rivian’s production is expected to pick up. This will help drive down selling prices while improving margins. Benchmark also highlighted Rivian’s expanding charging network.
In a note to investors, the firm pointed out that “of the EV newcomers, Rivian appears particularly well positioned with contracts from Amazon and Volkswagen.”
The next growth stage
Rivian also has “sufficient financial liquidity,” Benchmark said, as it improves profitability. Not including the recent $6.6 billion DOE loan for its plant in Georgia, “RIVN has sufficient capital to reach cash flow breakeven, by our estimates,” the note to investors stated.
The company is already seeing significant material cost reductions after launching its second-gen R1 models in Q2.
Rivian ended the third quarter with $6.7 billion in cash and equivalents, including a $1 billion convertible note from Volkswagen as part of its new joint venture.
Benchmark expects Rivian “to continue to reduce material costs, leverage fixed costs, and scale revenues” with the gen-2 vehicles and then further with R2.
Rivian is expected to launch the smaller R2 in 2026. Starting at $45,000, the electric SUV is poised to attract new buyers as it expands into new markets. It will initially be built in Normal, but Rivian will expand production with a new plant in Georgia.
The EV maker expects to build between 47,000 and 49,000 vehicles this year. Following the shutdown, Rivian can build up to 150,000 vehicles at its plant in Normal. After the R2 launches, Rivian expects production capacity to be around 215,000, with R2 accounting for 155,000 units alone.
Rivian’s partnership with Volkswagen will be a “landmark development for the industry,” according to CEO RJ Scaringe. The total deal is worth up to $5 billion, a “meaning financial opportunity,” Scaringe said.
Rivian’s stock is up almost 13% on Monday following the new analyst coverage. Although RIVN shares are up 40% over the past month, they are still over 30% in 2024.
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From February 2025, US Mercedes-Benz EV drivers will be able to charge their cars at over 20,000 Tesla Superchargers in the US and Canada.
Drivers based in Canada will gain access to the Tesla Supercharger network later in 2025.
Authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships will provide a free software update for compatible vehicles to ensure smooth and easy Plug & Charge operation at Tesla Superchargers. Customers with vehicles in scope will be contacted directly to schedule their software update.
The Mercedes me Charge service will integrate drivers into the Tesla Supercharger network, enabling easy Plug & Charge functionality when they charge at Superchargers. Mercedes me Charge also offers public charging at Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging, IONNA, Electrify America, EVGo, ChargePoint, and more.
Mercedes me Charge gives drivers charger locations, real-time charger availability, status, and pricing for all in-network charging points through both the Mercedes-Benz app and the MBUX infotainment system. Charging can also be initiated via the Mercedes-Benz app or the MBUX infotainment system.
Tesla Superchargers will be integrated into Mercedes-Benz’s “Navigation with Electric Intelligence”. This feature automatically navigates drivers to the most efficient, time-saving route, including transparent charging stops and charging times.
“The fast-growing network of charging points available in Mercedes me Charge will now expand to over 110,000 public charging points across the United States and Canada, providing Mercedes-Benz drivers with an industry-leading charging experience whenever and wherever they choose to charge,” said Franz Reiner, chairman of the board of management at Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG.
Mercedes says a North American Charging Standard NACS to CCS1 adapter for current CCS1-compatible EVs will be available at authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships for purchase in the US for $185 in Q1 2025. Customers will be notified when adapters are available to purchase. They’ll be available from Canadian dealerships in Q2 2025, with pricing to be confirmed closer to market introduction.
The German automaker says it will introduce NACS ports in its EV lineup beginning in 2025.
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Tesla’s Model Y “Juniper” refresh has been spotted for the first time undergoing winter testing in China, in anticipation of an imminent reveal.
The refreshed Model Y has been expected for some time, and is expected to include many of the improvements of the 2023 Model 3 refresh. The headline features of that vehicle are a new front-end, more efficiency, and a quieter cabin. But there were a lot of other interior improvements as well (and one big de-provement, the deletion of steering column stalks).
And we know that it’s coming soon, because there have been plenty of sightings and leaks lately, though all have been camouflaged to hide front and rear end design changes.
And while Tesla said in 2024 that there’s no Model Y refresh coming “this year”, 2024 is over now, and there have been plenty of recent indications that the refresh is imminent.
Well, now that time has apparently come, and photos were posted today of the vehicle undergoing uncamouflaged winter testing in Northeast China.
As expected, the refresh gets rid of the “duck lips” of the previous Model Y, just as Tesla did with the Model 3 refresh, and as camouflaged photos have suggested. The rear end also matches previous leaks we’ve seen, with a sleeker rear end and use of the “TESLA” text badging rather than the Tesla logo (which is also not present on the rear of the Model 3 refresh).
The front end is a more dramatic redesign than the Model 3, though, which gained a lower nose but still retained traditional headlights. The Model Y goes further with a Cybertruck-like light bar across the whole front end, rather than the distinct headlights of the Model 3.
Social media rumors also suggested that an official unveil is imminent, so we may find out more within days. Stay tuned.
What do you think of the look of the Model Y Juniper?
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A judge has officially approved a settlement in a case brought by Tesla shareholders against board members who will now have to return stock, cash, and give up on stock options worth a total of nearly $1 billion.
Let me start this article with a quote from Tesla CEO Elon Musk:
Tesla will never settle a case where we’re in the right, and never contest a case where we’re in the wrong.
Today, Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick approved a settlement agreement between Tesla and all its board members from 2017 to 2020 and the Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit on behalf of Tesla shareholders over what the shareholders believed to be excessive compensation.
The agreement was first reported in July 2023, but it is only now being officially approved and we learn a few more details.
Shareholders believed that members of Tesla’s board were compensating themselves excessively with hundreds of millions of dollars between 2017 and 2020 when the average compensation of a board member of a S&P500 company is just north of $300,000.
Under the settlement, the board members agree to return to Tesla $277 million in cash, $459 million in stock options and to forgo $184 million worth of stock options awarded for 2021-2023.
That adds up to nearly $1 billion.
The board members include Kimbal Musk, Elon’s brother, Brad Buss, Ira Ehrenpreis, Antonio Gracias, Stephen Jurvetson, all close friends of Elon Musk and people who have financial dealings with Musk outside of Tesla, Linda Johnson Rice, Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, Hiromichi Mizuno and Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle Corp and also a close friend of Musk.
As part of the settlement, Tesla or the board does not admit to any wrongdoing.
Musk didn’t take compensation as part of the board, but he is embroiled in a similar case over his own $55 billion CEO compensation package, which was rescinded by the same judge after she found that it wasn’t negotiated or presented to shareholders in good faith.
The board members who received this “excessive compensation” also happened to be the one who “negotiated” Musk’s CEO compensation package.