12 years ago, a student at MIT wanted to build a cool car.
Today, that student is the founder and CEO of the 2nd biggest car company in the world: Rivian.
This is the inspiring story👇👇
Today, that student is the founder and CEO of the 2nd biggest car company in the world: Rivian.
This is the inspiring story👇👇
RJ Scaringe was interested in cars since childhood.
He helped his neighbor rebuild a Porsche 356s in his garage in Florida.
By high school, his goal was clear: building his own car company.
He helped his neighbor rebuild a Porsche 356s in his garage in Florida.
By high school, his goal was clear: building his own car company.
At MIT, RJ spent his time trying to perfect exhaust-gas recirculation and valve timing and taking manufacturing courses.
He got a doctorate in mechanical engineering.
After MIT, he started his own car company called Mainstream Motors in Florida to build the next-gen sports car.
He got a doctorate in mechanical engineering.
After MIT, he started his own car company called Mainstream Motors in Florida to build the next-gen sports car.
Sadly, the car flopped. No investor liked it, and they wouldn't fund it.
But he didn't give up.
To get funding, he mortgaged his home and got $3.5 million.
By this time, the goal had shifted from a sports car to a luxury car.
But he didn't give up.
To get funding, he mortgaged his home and got $3.5 million.
By this time, the goal had shifted from a sports car to a luxury car.
But that also failed.
So RJ was forced to layoff several people from the company in 2012.
But he didn't give up.
Around that time, one of his MIT professors introduced him to Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel(ALJ), an MIT alumnus and a rich Saudi businessman.
So RJ was forced to layoff several people from the company in 2012.
But he didn't give up.
Around that time, one of his MIT professors introduced him to Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel(ALJ), an MIT alumnus and a rich Saudi businessman.
They met a few months later.
Sitting on a rug in the Saudi Arabian desert, surrounded by smoky hookahs and dusty Toyotas, ALJ told RJ to build a pickup truck.
RJ did it, and AJL gave the funding. Thus, Rivian was born.
Sitting on a rug in the Saudi Arabian desert, surrounded by smoky hookahs and dusty Toyotas, ALJ told RJ to build a pickup truck.
RJ did it, and AJL gave the funding. Thus, Rivian was born.
But there were already lots of pickup trucks in the market.
RJ wanted to build something different.
So he shifted to an electric pickup truck Bingo!
RJ wanted to build something different.
So he shifted to an electric pickup truck Bingo!
In November 2018, Rihanna gave the grand reveal to Rivian's 2 prototypes at the LA Autoshow: a pickup truck and an SUV.
Orders started pouring in.
Amazon gave $1 billion in funding to the company💰
Plus, they ordered 1 lakh Rivian electric vans for delivery💪
Orders started pouring in.
Amazon gave $1 billion in funding to the company💰
Plus, they ordered 1 lakh Rivian electric vans for delivery💪
Jeff Bezos used a Rivian truck to drive to the launchpad for the Blue Origin rocket flight!!
Just like Tesla, Rivian is also building its own fast-charging network⚡
And the best part? Rivian just had one of the biggest IPO's ever: $100 billion🤩🤩 Inspiring story, isn't it?
Just like Tesla, Rivian is also building its own fast-charging network⚡
And the best part? Rivian just had one of the biggest IPO's ever: $100 billion🤩🤩 Inspiring story, isn't it?
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