Minor Accident with Rivian R1S Raises Serious Concerns
The driver of a Rivian R1S electric vehicle accidentally collided with a UPS truck while parking. Although the damage appeared minor, the owner began worrying whether the car would have to be written off due to this incident. Similar cases in the past suggest that such concerns may be justified, though there are also positive examples.
According to the driver, he mistook the shadow of the truck for part of the parking space due to the rearview camera. As a result, a crack appeared on the LED panel and a small dent on the tailgate. However, even such a seemingly minor issue can lead to significant expenses due to high-tech components and costly servicing.
I thought I was looking at the shadow of the truck through the camera
High Repair Costs
There have been previous cases where minor damage to Rivian vehicles cost owners thousands of dollars. For example, last year, repairs to an R1T amounted to over $21,000, while another owner spent nearly $11,000 to restore a C-pillar. However, the situation may be improving—a similar incident with an R1S earlier this year was resolved at a much lower cost.
Some commentators suggest alternative solutions, such as purchasing used parts or using paintless dent repair techniques. This could significantly reduce costs compared to official service centers, where estimated repair costs can reach $15,000.
This case serves as another reminder of how delicate modern electric vehicles can be. Even a minor collision that would be trivial for a conventional car can turn into a lengthy and expensive process here. At the same time, the increasing availability of parts and alternative repair methods offer hope for more affordable solutions to such situations.