- Rivian Automotive (RIVN) reports a worse-than-expected loss in Q1, losing over $38,000 per vehicle.
- Speculation arises about a potential partnership between Apple (AAPL) and the EV startup.
- Rivian’s stock sees a slight fall after initial gains on Tuesday.
Rivian Automotive’s Q1 results show a significant loss per vehicle, sparking concerns amongst investors. Meanwhile, rumors of a potential partnership with tech giant Apple fuel market speculation.
Rivian’s Q1 Results
Rivian reported a loss of $1.24 per share in Q1, a slight decrease from a $1.25 loss a year ago. Despite this, revenue increased by over 80% to $1.204 billion, exceeding analysts’ predictions. However, the company lost $38,784 per vehicle delivered in Q1, a figure that has raised eyebrows in the financial world. Despite this, Rivian remains confident in its path to achieving modest gross profit by the end of the year.
Potential Partnership with Apple
Speculation about a potential partnership between Rivian and Apple has been rife, following reports from Taiwan-based Digitimes. Apple recently canceled its long-running “Project Titan” Apple Car, leading to speculation about potential collaborations with existing EV manufacturers. Analyst Adam Jonas from Morgan Stanley suggests that Rivian could benefit from a partnership to bring its new vehicles to market at scale.
Executive Changes and Q1 Deliveries
Rivian recently announced the appointment of Javier Varela as its new chief operations officer. Varela, formerly of Volvo, joins the company as it seeks to improve its operational efficiency. In Q1, Rivian delivered a total of 13,588 vehicles, slightly exceeding analysts’ expectations. The company also reaffirmed its guidance of producing 57,000 vehicles in 2024.
New Product Line and Funding
In March, Rivian unveiled the R2, its next-generation vehicle. The R2 is smaller and cheaper than its predecessor, with an estimated starting price of $45,000. The company plans to produce the vehicle at its new factory in Georgia, with deliveries set for the first half of 2026. Rivian also announced the R3, a compact crossover vehicle, and a high-performance R3X offering. The company received over 68,000 reservations for the R2 within 24 hours of its launch.
Financial Outlook
Despite the Q1 loss, Rivian’s CFO Claire McDonough remains confident in the company’s financial position. She stated that Rivian’s cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments can fund operations through 2025. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk suggested that based on Rivian’s quarterly cash on hand, the company could face bankruptcy within six quarters.
Conclusion
Despite a challenging Q1, Rivian remains optimistic about its financial future. The potential partnership with Apple could provide a much-needed boost to the company’s market position. However, the road ahead remains uncertain, with the company’s high loss per vehicle and speculation about its financial stability casting a shadow over its prospects.
