Do We Care Who Makes an Electric Vehicle's Motor? Rivian's Approach to Outsourcing Explored
Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, and Rivian is the only pure electric vehicle manufacturer to outsource its electric motors. This has caused some debate in the EV world - do we care who makes the motor?
When it comes down to it, what matters most is the performance of the car. If a review of the car is bad, then it doesn’t matter if the reason is because they didn’t design their own motor or something else. On the other hand, if it performs well, that’s all that really counts. In this case, outsourcing the motor may be the right way to go as evidenced by Sandy Munro's videos on the Mach-E and Kyle from Out of Spec Motoring's positive reviews.
Outsourcing doesn't mean that Rivian isn't designing the product; instead, they are partnering with legacy industry companies to produce components and maybe even a car. This allows them to focus on developing proprietary things while working out any potential bugs. Magna has a hand in everything and will be building Fisker Ocean entirely. Bosch also has great research and development capabilities and can justify costs over a larger market than Rivian at this point.
Ultimately, when it comes to deciding whether or not we should care about which company produces an electric vehicle's motor, there are pros and cons for both sides. However, what matters most is how well the car performs in terms of safety, reliability, and efficiency. As long as Rivian stands behind their products, customers shouldn’t have anything to worry about regardless of who manufactures their motors.
In the end, it’s up to each individual customer to decide if they care about who makes their electric vehicle's motor. Some may prefer a car that is entirely designed and built in-house while others may be more comfortable with an outsourced model. Ultimately, what matters most is how well the car performs and whether or not Rivian stands behind their product regardless of who manufactures its motors.
Is Rivian the only pure electric vehicle manufacturer to use outsourced electric motors?
Yes, Rivian is the only pure electric vehicle manufacturer to use outsourced electric motors. Ford, GM, Nissan, etc. are excluded as they are not "pure" electric vehicle manufacturers. GM is using Bosch motors.
Do we care about who makes the motor in an EV?
It depends on the individual. Some people may care while others may not. Ultimately, it is best to look at specific reviews of the car and performance to determine if it is a good or bad product regardless of who made the motor.
Does Rivian make their own motors?
Rivian is currently working on their own motors, but for now they are outsourcing them from other companies.
Who manufactures the motor for the Mach-E?
The front motor for the Mach-E is made by LG-Magna. Magna also has a hand in producing the entire Fisker Ocean.
Is it possible to have a great drive system when outsourcing?
Yes, it is possible to have a great drive system when outsourcing. For example, Kyle from Out of Spec Motoring has gushed about how nice the drive systems are compared to other EVs he has driven.
What are the advantages of using an in-house motor?
The main advantage of using an in-house motor is that it allows for more control over the design, production, and quality of the motor. This can lead to better performance and reliability. Additionally, it can also reduce costs as the company does not have to pay for outside services.
What are the disadvantages of outsourcing a motor?
One disadvantage of outsourcing a motor is that it can be difficult to ensure quality control. Additionally, there may be delays in production due to communication issues between the two companies. Finally, there may be additional costs associated with outsourcing such as shipping and handling fees.