- Owners and buyers can receive up to six months of free charging at Rivian’s charging network.
- The first 100 owners making 25 referrals will receive an invite to a special “adventure weekend.”
- Rivian is following Tesla and Lucid, which have also launched their own referral programs.
Owners and buyers of Rivian vehicles are eligible to each receive a credit worth $750 thanks to the launch of a long-awaited referral program from the electric car manufacturer.
Tesla pioneered the concept of the referral program, encouraging its loyalists to recruit as many new buyers as possible using unique referral codes. In return, Tesla doled out discounts, credits, free charging, and other perks that fed into its cult-like following. Now, Rivian is clearly eyeing a similar path, but with a twist.
Rivian’s program offers a straightforward deal: 750 points (1 point equals a $1 credit) for an owner who makes a referral and another 750 points to a new buyer who uses that referral code. On top of this, both parties get six months of free charging at the Rivian Adventure Network, giving a little extra nudge for those on the fence.
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That $750 credit isn’t just a paper promise; it can be redeemed for a future vehicle purchase or spent on Rivian’s online store, which includes everything from branded apparel to vehicle accessories, according to Auto News. The first 100 owners who make 25 referrals will also be able to participate in a special “adventure weekend,” although the carmaker has yet to announce details about it.
Owners will only be able to redeem a maximum of three years’ worth of free charging through the referral program, but there doesn’t appear to be a cap on the number of credits they can receive. But remember, points earned will expire two years after they land in the owner’s account, so use them or lose them.
For now, the program is exclusively available to Rivian owners in the United States, but there are plans to expand to Canada next year, which should broaden its appeal.
“These programs appeal to automakers because they’re quite simple to implement and therefore less expensive to run compared to other advertising methods,” Edmunds analyst Ivan Drury explained.
“Creating a program where both parties receive benefits also creates a win-win situation, which likely encourages greater participation. As a lifestyle heavy product, Rivian offering points redeemable towards Rivian gear has twofold benefits: Many of the branded products serve as additional advertising, and the perceived value of the branded gear is likely higher than their actual cost to make,” he added.
