How Rivian made itself the top contender to become the next Tesla

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe founded the startup in 2009 when he was 26. He first intended to build an electric sports car to take on Tesla's Roadster, but changed his mind a few years later. After spending most of the 2010s revamping the company, Scaringe reintroduced Rivian in 2018. Now, Scaringe is a billionaire who's been compared to Jeff Bezos and legendary General Motors CEO Alfred Sloan. The coming years will determine whether he can become a serious challenger to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

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• The CEO of EV startup Rivian explains why he thinks it will beat Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW with its first 2 electric vehicles

Rivian has so far raised $11 billion, according to Pitchbook, a sum no other EV startup has matched. Last year, Insider surveyed some of Rivian's investors to learn why they decided to back the company. They explained what made Rivian stand out from its competitors.

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• Early Rivian investors explain the 3 factors that could make the Amazon-backed startup the next Tesla
• No burnouts, no alien dreadnoughts: How Rivian's culture and simple manufacturing strategy could help it avoid Tesla's growing pains

Tesla's success and government regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions have put EVs, which accounted for just 2% of US auto sales in 2020, on the path to mainstream adoption. Entrepreneurs have taken notice, and a new group of EV startups is attempting to break into the intensely competitive US auto industry in the coming years. A consensus has developed among EV experts that Rivian is in the best position to succeed.

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• Rivian's 'beautiful' cars, $6 billion war chest, and deals with Amazon and Ford put it at the front of the pack of startups vying to be the next Tesla, VCs say
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• Rivian-rival Lucid's CEO thinks the EV industry is due for a brutal shakeout because startups are missing one key ingredient

The hype around Rivian has made the company an appealing destination for those who want to work in the EV industry. Insider interviewed Rivian's top hiring executives in 2020 about what they look for in job candidates. They shared their advice for applicants and the red flags that will hurt your chances of landing an offer.

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• The complete guide to getting a job at Rivian, according to two execs who head up hiring for the surging Tesla rival
• Why Rivian uses one of Elon Musk's favorite job-interview techniques to determine which candidates stand out
• A Rivian VP reveals the 5 key traits the Amazon-backed startup looks for in job candidates
• Rivian execs reveal the interview red flags that turn them against job candidates

Launching a new vehicle is hard, particularly if it's your first attempt. Rivian, like some of its competitors, is beginning to experience some of those challenges firsthand. This summer, the company delayed the launch of the R1T from July to September, citing "the cascading impacts of the pandemic." From navigating supply-chain disruptions to convincing state governments to revise laws that prevent automakers from selling directly to consumers, Rivian has its work cut out for it in the coming months and years.

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• Hot EV startups like Rivian were already struggling to get cars to market — then the chip shortage hit. 4 top execs and industry experts tell us how they're tackling the crisis.
• Rivian's policy chief breaks down how he's lobbying lawmakers to free EV startups from dealerships
• 2 of Tesla's most promising rivals keep getting delayed
• Are you a current or former Rivian employee? Do you have a news tip or opinion you'd like to share? Contact this reporter at mmatousek@insider.com, on Signal at 646-768-4712, or via his encrypted email address mmatousek@protonmail.com.