InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast · InsideEVs - Electric Vehicle News

Rivian R2 Launch, EV Tax Credit Hangover & Tesla’s Flying Roadster Dreams

·40 min·2 clips

Elon Musk says a Tesla Roadster demonstration is coming in the next couple of months.

1. InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast focuses on October EV sales, Rivian R2 plans, and Tesla Roadster claims. 2. Patrick George, Editor-in-Chief of InsideEVs, and Tim Levin, Senior Editor at InsideEVs, anchor the show with news reporting and market analysis. 3. The episode asks whether the U.S. EV slowdown is a demand collapse or an affordability problem. 4. Tim says October EV market share fell to around 5% after a record September above 12%. 5. Hyundai Motor Group numbers show the Ioniq 5 at 1,600 units, the EV6 at 508, the Ioniq 9 at 317, and the EV9 at 666. 6. Patrick notes that Honda sold about 800 Prologues in October after relying on lease deals. 7. The hosts connect the softer market to the end of the $7,500 tax credit and to tariff pressure on imported EVs. 8. They cite canceled or delayed models including the Kia EV4, Nissan RE6, Volkswagen ID7, and Acura ZDX. 9. Tim argues that the October drop reflects purchases pulled forward into September rather than a permanent collapse in EV appetite. 10. Patrick says the average new car in America is around $47,000 to $50,000, which makes affordability the core issue. 11. Tim points to Hyundai pricing the 2026 Ioniq 5 base model at $35,000 as an example of price adjustment. 12. Patrick compares U.S. choices with China, where Kevin Williams saw cheaper hatchbacks while visiting Xpeng. 13. The Rivian segment starts with a reported $1.1 billion net loss and a second quarter of gross profit in the year. 14. RJ Scaringe says the R2 launch edition will be a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version rather than the most expensive trim. 15. The R2 remains pitched as a $45,000 mainstream crossover with vehicle-to-home capability. 16. Rivian also announces Mind Robotics, a separate company with $110 million in seed capital for industrial AI robotics. 17. Patrick links Rivian’s robotics move to GM’s factory-automation work and to the broader rise of “physical AI.” 18. Tim and Patrick describe the tone as fast-paced, conversational, and heavy on recent news, numbers, and price comparisons. 19. Listeners interested in EV market data, Rivian, and Tesla product strategy will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners seeking a narrative story or deep technical breakdown may skip this one.

As heard by us

A grounded EV-market review of whether Rivian's R2 can make its mainstream promise feel real.

The Plugged-In Podcast catches the EV market in its October hangover and uses Rivian's R2 as the pressure test: can a mainstream crossover promise hold up against price, losses, and buyer caution?

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get Rivian's $45,000 R2 target, a $1.1 billion net loss, and Tesla Roadster skepticism in one EV-news conversation.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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