Rivian News: Don’t call Rivian’s “Spaces” a car dealership

Rivian news doesn’t call its first location in New York City’s Meatpacking District a car dealership and there is very little room dedicated to displaying its electric vehicles. Its “Spaces” instead seek to create a place where people can interact with one another in a lounge with vintage furniture. The stores feature information stations to help people, for example, to determine how far they can drive their vehicles before needing a charge. “We’ve deliberately set up trip planning as a central moment in all of these spaces,” said Denise Cherry, Rivian’s senior director of facilities design and retail development. “We can help you plan your trip to the Catskills or whatever it might be and demystify that barrier to entry for EVs, as well as highlight what makes our vehicle so special.”

Rivian Spaces Differentiated From Traditional Car Dealership

Rivian, a new EV or electric vehicle carmaker, has launched a string of retail stores to sell their two models, the R1S and R1T. Similar to Tesla’s beginnings, the company has opted to forego the conventional dealership lot and office layout, and instead focus on the customer experience. Echoing the importance of the retail store layout in influencing a customer’s shopping journey.

This is in line with predictions about the future of retail and how the industry is adapting to the consumer desire for experiences, as detailed in our article. 

The first of these spaces have been opened in New York City’s Meatpacking District with more planned to be opened in California and Texas. 

To emphasize the brand’s focus on adventure and lifestyle, these spaces feature an array of Rivian car parts on display alongside samples of materials used in the manufacturing process. What you won’t find are high-pressure salesmen and cars flooding the area.

Instead, consumers can expect a more laid-back approach that values the interactivity of the shopper and the Rivian community. These spaces will be rich with information about electric vehicles and how consumers can expect to make the transition from internal-combustion engines.

Finally, Rivian news explains how these spaces, such as the previous Laguna Beach theater in Southern California and a former gas station near Yosemite National Park, will remain flexible to support both related and non-related events for the community. Rivian has explained how they can hold exclusive party events for Rivian owners one day, and a gardening event for the general public the next.