Rivian Cuts Quad-Motor Option With Max Pack Battery to Start 2023

Chris Teague
by Chris Teague

Despite earning accolades with its two new electric vehicles, Rivian has struggled to meet demand and has raised prices in recent months to account for rising materials and production costs. The automaker is taking action to improve its lot in 2023, however, as a recent letter obtained by Teslarati shows, its efforts to simplify product offerings early in the year.


Rivian sent the letter to people who preordered a vehicle with the available Max Pack battery. The automaker said the battery would only be offered with its dual-motor powertrain and not with the quad-motor option as initially promised. People that committed financially to buying a quad-motor Max Pack before March 1 will see a $4,500 price decrease as their order is switched from quad- to dual-motor. The automaker said buyers wanting to keep the quad-motor powertrain could select the Large Pack, which delivers 328 miles of range instead of the Max Pack’s 400. 


It's easy to jump to conclusions with Rivian’s financial and operational state when hearing this news, but this will likely be a positive thing for buyers and the company. Neither of the alternative options Rivian offered sounds all that bad, and the net result looks to be faster deliveries for reservation holders. The Large Pack’s 328 miles of range is still impressive, and the dual-motor powertrain is still quick, with a 4.5-second 0-60 mph time. Rivian also offers an enhanced dual-motor system that cuts the time to 3.5 seconds. This also isn’t a permanent change, as Rivian said it would introduce an updated quad-motor powertrain later with a Max Pack option. 

[Image: Rivian]

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Chris Teague
Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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  • Cprescott Cprescott on Dec 28, 2022

    Nice status symbol if not a brilliant purchase.

    • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Dec 28, 2022

      I think the Fisker Karmas fill such a niche today but I'm sure the [first] owners took a bath on them first. This will likely be the same once the company founders.


  • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Jan 01, 2023

    "$4,500 price decrease"

    Great -- now I can buy eggs again.

  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
  • Dave Holzman A design award for the Prius?!!! Yes, the Prius is a great looking car, but the visibility is terrible from what I've read, notably Consumer Reports. Bad visibility is a dangerous, and very annoying design flaw.
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