Rivian Owners Chose Aftermarket Solutions After Cost-Cutting Measures Crippled the Horn

Rivian started a cost-cutting spree earlier this year as it tried to ramp up production and stop the hemorrhaging of money. During the second-quarter earnings call, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe announced that the EV startup is losing about $32,000 for every vehicle it sells. Although this is less than other carmakers who revealed their EV losses, it's still a massive issue for a startup with limited resources. In that case, every dollar that can be saved is valuable, and Rivian wasn't shy in cutting even the most popular features to get out of the red zone.

Some of these cost-cutting measures made sense, and we count the development of the Enduro drive units here. These are not only cheaper to produce but also superior to the Bosch counterparts installed in the Quad-Motor Rivians. Removing the second 12-volt battery falls into the same category. Another change that could be forgiven was switching to an in-house sound system instead of the Meridian setup, especially as people could be convinced that it sounded better.

Other efforts have more potential to annoy customers than save money, but Rivian chose them nevertheless. These include removing the 12-volt outlets from the frunk and the center console and, even more questionable, downgrading the horn. Rivian removed one of the two horns to save money, making its vehicles sound more "polite" when the situation asked for a strong statement.

Many owners have complained about the anemic sound that fails to attract other drivers' attention. This is not just a whim, as it fails to alert other road users in potentially dangerous situations. Not being heard when you try to yell out loud can result in a crash, so something's got to be done. Rivian owners tried to convince the company that the horn is not where you start to cut costs.

There are countless complaints on social media and Rivian forums about the crippled horns. Before you smile reading this sentence, you must know that many Rivian executives are active on these forums, engaging with the community and sometimes taking notes to improve their vehicles. If this can be done in software, it will most likely be done. A good example was the new suspension setup pushed to Rivian EVs in September.

Since no solution came from Rivian, many owners who took delivery of their vehicles in the past two months have searched for aftermarket solutions. If you recall, Rivian removed one of the horns that emitted the higher-pitch tone. That's why there's little surprise that one of the first posts on a forum from a new Rivian owner is about an "aftermarket horn."

Thankfully, the internet is filled with videos and pictures showing how to install an aftermarket horn in a Rivian. It involves removing the frunk tub first, which is probably the most challenging part of the job. It's much easier to find an aftermarket horn and bolt it to the car. There's even a hole for it left from the original horn that Rivian removed.

Remember that the original setup consisted of two horns, a 400-Hz and a 500-Hz part. Rivian removed the latter, so look for an aftermarket 500-Hz horn to buy. Just by adding it, you'll make your truck sound a lot more menacing when you honk. The additional horn can be electrically connected to the one on the vehicle by splicing the wires or using a suitable adapter. This is where you might void your warranty, so owners must know what they risk when adding a second horn.

You could also choose to replace the OEM horn with an aftermarket solution, thus not needing to modify the wiring harness. This sounds better, but it could be more difficult to do it yourself. People who tried it reported that the Rivian's horn is in a difficult-to-access position. I'm sure this will entice businesses to offer a turn-key solution for those who aren't handy with tools. There certainly appears to be a market for it.

The accessory market is a great place to search for solutions to problems that carmakers have created. Still, Rivian claims the R1T and R1S are luxury vehicles. You shouldn't be forced to install aftermarket parts in a luxury car to compensate for something the manufacturer doesn't want to offer. After all, Rivian EVs come with a useless Camp speaker that costs much more than the horn and the missing 12-volt outlets combined. People argue that the EV maker should make it optional and use the money it saves for essential features they need.

Rivian must know that these modifications to the electrical system could be dangerous. People do them because they are forced to by Rivian's shortsightedness. For instance, many modified the wire harness to add the missing 12-volt outlet in the frunk. This could lead to overheating or fire because the existing wiring may not be suitable for high-power devices that could be plugged into that outlet.