Rivian Beats Tesla's Battery Warranty

Tesla and Rivian aren't exactly pals. Last summer,Tesla sued Rivianfor allegedly poaching employees and stealing trade secrets. That case is still ongoing and has been escalated following a judge's decision that thecase should not be dismissed. Now, supporters of each EV manufacturer have something new to argue about.

Over the past couple of years, we've covered multiple stories detailingTesla's poor warranty coverage. It's poor compared to what the rest of the industry generally offers, but many defended it since EVs require very little maintenance. Rivian also produces low-maintenance EVs, and looking at its warranty for new vehicles, Tesla now has no excuse for failing to protect its customers fully.

Whether you opt for Rivian'sR1Ttruck or itsR1SSUV, you get a comprehensive warranty covering any and all defects for the first five years or 60,000 miles. Compare that to Tesla, where there are exceptions forsqueaks and rattles. That's a big problem considering many Tesla complaints are related to poor build quality.

Rivian bolsters its coverage further by covering the battery pack for eight years - the industry standard - and 175,000 miles, which is more than the average of about 125K. The drivetrain is covered for the same period, while a corrosion perforation warranty carries no mileage limit and is active for the first eight years of ownership.

Rivian's website notes that "a full list of warranty coverage will be located in the Warranty Guide prior to production vehicles being available for purchase", which may mean that other warranty offerings will be added. Regardless of what improvements Rivian may or may not make, it seems that the automaker is already ahead of Tesla in quality and warranty, and seems to have more confidence in its products. Or maybe it's that Tesla feels its products are so good in certain areas that it can slack off in others. Cue the comments section going ablaze as Tesla fanatics defend the company.