Rivian’s first ‘concept experience’ in NYC looks like an EV space you’d actually hang at
Rivian has completed an extensive remodel of its space in the Meatpacking District of NYC, which has been reimagined as the American Automaker’s first “concept experience.” These spaces will rotate themes and locations to give visitors and Rivian owners unique spaces to hang out and explore the adventure EV brand.
As the American automaker continues to expand its lineup of all-electric models, it has also been working on creating a showroom presence around the US to offer consumers a place to see its models up close and design one themselves with the help of a Rivian employee.
These Rivian Spaces also provide a place for owners to hang out, get service, and talk to others about the brand. Rivian’s service and demo footprint currently consists of over 60 locations in the US and two in Canada.
Several of those locations are dedicated Rivian Spaces, such as the showroom on 461 W 14th Street in the Meatpacking District of NYC. While that NYC space only opened two years ago, Rivian recently completed an extensive remodel into what it describes as its first “concept experience.” Per Rivian:
To give both our longtime followers and those new to our brand a chance to connect with a distinct facet of who we are, we’re introducing yearly, rotating concepts that will come to life through immersive design, content, events, and programming.
Rivian opens its first conceptual Space in NYC
Per Rivian, the remodeled Space beneath the High Line in NYC is called “Adventure is in Us.” The walls and decor tell stories of people who embody that spirit daily, including genuine Rivian owners. Rivian said its initial concept is about celebrating a “broader, more inclusive view of adventure and inspiring visitors to embrace it too.”
The experience doesn’t end on Rivian’s concept Space walls either. The automaker has developed a multi-sensory customer experience that includes sight, sound, scent, and taste. The Space features natural woods and other textures you can touch, natural soundscapes as you wander, plush greenery for sights and scent, and even drinks you can sample, including coffee from local vendors like Don Carvajal and tea from Harney & Sons. Rivian shared more details:
Visitors can tap digital displays to hear owner stories through a headset and learn about charging through an interactive touch wall. Placing a special emphasis on discovery, especially for kids, we intentionally designed interactive moments at lower heights with tactile elements that invite younger visitors to explore and engage—including a vehicle color experience where kids can choose their favorite Rivian color. A sound experience gives kids the opportunity to guess the audio sounds from around NYC.
When redesigning its NYC Space, Rivian said it tried to make the showroom below the High Line an open, green, and inviting extension of the park around it. In addition to being the first conceptual, immersive Space, Rivian’s Meatpacking District location will also offer exclusive “adventure drives,” in which customers can sign up for small group demo drives to locations adjacent to NYC, such as the Met Cloisters and the Storm King Art Center.
Other features of the “Adventure is in Us” Space include a communal theater and space for community gatherings and panel discussions. If you’re in NYC, you can visit the remodeled Rivian Space at 461 W 14th Street, New York, NY 10014, and go to the automaker’s Spaces page to sign up for upcoming events.
If you do visit, let us know about your experience!
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After a month off trying to wrap our heads around all the chaos surrounding EVs, solar, and everything else in Washington, we’re back with the biggest EV news stories of the day from Tesla, Ford, Volvo, and everyone else on today’s hiatus-busting episode of Quick Charge!
It just gets worse and worse for the Tesla true believers – especially those willing to put their money where Elon’s mouth is! One believer is set to lose nearly $50,000 betting on Tesla’s ability to deliver a Robotaxi service by the end of June (didn’t happen), and the controversial CEO’s most recent spat with President Trump had TSLA down nearly 5% in pre-morning trading.
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Hyundai is getting ready to shake things up. A new electric crossover SUV, likely the Hyundai IONIQ 2, is set to debut in the coming months. It will sit below the Kona Electric as Hyundai expands its entry-level EV lineup.
Is Hyundai launching the IONIQ 2 in 2026?
After launching the Inster late last year, Hyundai is already preparing to introduce a new entry-level EV in Europe.
Xavier Martinet, President and CEO of Hyundai Europe, confirmed that the new EV will be revealed “in the next few months.” It will be built in Europe and scheduled to go on sale in mid-2026.
Hyundai’s new electric crossover is expected to be a twin to the Kia EV2, which will likely arrive just ahead of it next year.
It will be underpinned by the same E-GMP platform, which powers all IONIQ and Kia EV models (EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6, and EV9).
Like the Kia EV3, it will likely be available with either a 58.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh battery pack option. The former provides a WLTP range of 267 miles while the latter is rated with up to 372 miles. All trims are powered by a single electric motor at the front, producing 201 hp and 209 lb-ft of torque.
Although it may share the same underpinnings as the EV2, Hyundai’s new entry-level EV will feature an advanced new software and infotainment system.
According to Autocar, the interior will represent a “step change” in terms of usability and features. The new system enables new functions, such as ambient lighting and sounds that adjust depending on the drive mode.
It’s expected to showcase Hyundai’s powerful new Pleos software and infotainment system. As an end-to-end software platform, Pleos connects everything from the infotainment system (Pleos Connect) to the Vehicle Operating System (OS) and the cloud.
Pleos is set to power Hyundai’s upcoming software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with new features like autonomous driving and real-time data analysis.
As an Android-based system, Pleos Connect features a “smartphone-like UI” with new functions including multi-window viewing and an AI voice assistant.
The new electric crossover is expected to start at around €30,000 ($35,400), or slightly less than the Kia EV3, priced from €35,990 ($42,500). It will sit between the Inster and Kona Electric in Hyundai’s lineup.
Hyundai said that it would launch the first EV with its next-gen infotainment system in Q2 2026. Will it be the IONIQ 2? Hyundai is expected to unveil the new entry-level EV at IAA Mobility in September. Stay tuned for more info. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
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Tesla has unveiled its lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery cell factory in Nevada and claims that it is nearly ready to start production.
Like several other automakers using LFP cells, Tesla relies heavily on Chinese manufacturers for its battery cell supply.
Tesla’s cheapest electric vehicles all utilize LFP cells, and its entire range of energy storage products, Megapacks and Powerwalls, also employ the more affordable LFP cell chemistry from Chinese manufacturers.
This reliance on Chinese manufacturers is less than ideal and particularly complicated for US automakers and battery pack manufacturers like Tesla, amid an ongoing trade war between the US and virtually the entire world, including China.
As of last year, a 25% tariff already applied to battery cells from China, but this increased to more than 80% under Trump before he paused some tariffs on China. It remains unclear where they will end up by the time negotiations are complete and the trade war is resolved, but many expect it to be higher.
Prior to Trump taking power, Tesla had already planned to build a small LFP battery factory in the US to avoid the 25% tariffs.
The automaker had secured older manufacturing equipment from one of its battery cell suppliers, CATL, and planned to deploy it in the US for small-scale production.
Tesla has now released new images of the factory in Nevada and claimed that it is “nearing completion”:
Here are a few images from inside the factory (via Tesla):
Previous reporting stated that Tesla aims to produce about 10 GWh of LFP battery cells per year at the new factory.
The cells are expected to be used in Tesla’s Megapack, produced in the US. Tesla currently has a capacity to produce 40 GWh of Megapacks annually at its factory in California. The company is also working on a new Megapack factory in Texas.
Ford is also developing its own LFP battery cell factory in Michigan, but this facility is significantly larger, with a planned production capacity of 35 GWh.
Electrek’s Take
It’s nice to see this in the US. LFP was a US/Canada invention, with Arumugam Manthiram and John B. Goodenough doing much of the early work, and researchers in Quebec making several contributions to help with commercialization.
But China saw the potential early and invested heavily in volume manufacturing of LFP cells and it now dominates the market.
Tesla is now producing most of its vehicles with LFP cells and all its stationary energy storage products.
It makes sense to invest in your own production. However, Tesla is unlikely to catch up to BYD and CATL, which dominate LFP cell production.
The move will help Tesla avoid tariffs on a small percentage of its Megapacks produced in the US. Ford’s effort is more ambitious.
It’s worth noting that both Ford’s and Tesla’s LFP plants were planned before Trump’s tariffs, which have had limited success in bringing manufacturing back to the US.
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