---
title: "Rivian CEO Doesn’t Believe Tesla Cybertruck Will Lure Away R1T Customers"
description: "Tesla's Cybertruck isn't making the smaller Rivian, with its R1T electric pickup truck, quake in its boots."
date: "2023-09-29"
modified: "2023-09-29"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/rivian-ceo-doesnt-believe-tesla-cybertruck-will-lure-away-r1t-customers"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Rivian News"
  - "Tesla News"
tags:
  - "Cybertruck"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "pickup"
  - "r1t"
  - "Rivian"
  - "Tesla"
  - "Truck"
---

# Rivian CEO Doesn’t Believe Tesla Cybertruck Will Lure Away R1T Customers

![Rivian R1T pickup trucks against a mountainous background](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/29/2022-Rivian-R1T-19.jpg>)
*\<em\>Rivian\</em\>*

With [pre-production Tesla Cybertrucks out on the road](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/futuristic-tesla-cybertruck-design-already-looking-stale-in-latest-photos>) and deliveries seemingly nearing, the [Rivian R1T](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/worlds-first-lifted-rivian-r1t-has-38-inch-tires-and-looks-like-this>) is about to face a new challenge in the electric pickup market. Or so you'd think. Rivian's CEO RJ Scaringe isn't too worried about Tesla's truck, and he explained why in an interview with *[The Verge](<https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/26/23890396/code-conference-2023-interviews-news/archives/6#stream-entry-7fe61e84-4d1c-46a2-8958-6771849d15fb>)*.

"If you were to think of, like, the Venn diagrams of \[Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck\] customers, there's probably not a lot of overlap," Scaringe told an audience in an interview uploaded to Instagram. The executive offered a diplomatic explanation: the auto industry is diverse in a way that many EV proponents (often from the tech industry) just don't understand. Scaringe went on to explain that he sees room for multiple answers to the question of the best electric truck, calling the Cybertruck "different," and remarking that "it's great that a product like that exists in the world" because of its contribution toward electrification.

> [View this post on Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxrNrQzptMq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading>)

> [A post shared by The Verge (@verge)](<https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxrNrQzptMq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading>)

Scaringe's perspective makes sense, as while the Cybertruck falls broadly into the same category as the R1T and [GMC Hummer EV](<https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2024-gmc-hummer-ev-suv-first-drive-review-specs-price-options-impressions>)—recreational pickups—they all address slightly different demographics. Each also have [long order backlogs](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/it-would-take-gmc-17-years-to-clear-the-hummer-ev-waitlist-at-current-production-rate>), meaning many customers have reservations on multiple trucks, and cancel their backups based on what's first available. By that virtue, someone who can't get a [Rivian](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/rivian-news>) or the elusive Hummer may be glad to accept a Cybertruck.

At the same time, the Cybertruck is showing signs of falling short of the stratospheric expectations set by Tesla's hype-man CEO Elon Musk. Even among [Tesla](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/tesla-news>) fans, the evolution of its styling from the already polarizing concept to pre-production mule hasn't gone down well. Despite aiming to exceed the [Ford F-150](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/ford-wants-to-offer-a-bolt-on-third-axle-for-the-f-150>)'s capabilities, [photos of a "release candidate's" bed](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-tesla-cybertrucks-actual-bed-looks-even-less-usable-than-the-concepts>) show design decisions that compromise utility. A replacement for every other truck on the road, the Cybertruck won't be.

But that's a given to anyone approaching electric trucks from the automotive perspective as opposed to the tech side. Cars don't continuously improve in every way, and new cars don't unilaterally obsolete the old. Scaringe understands this, and it's a perspective other advocates for electrification would benefit from, too.

*Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: james@thedrive.com*

## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)