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In the modern auto industry, CEOs are usually little more than shadows behind boardroom glass, appearing briefly for earnings calls or stockholder summits before retreating back into the ether. They do not wander into charging stations with their families or pause to talk about paint codes with customers. Yet that is exactly what Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe did at a new charging outpost in Southampton. In an era where most leaders keep their distance, Scaringe seems intent on closing it.
He talked about it on Reddit.
“I got a chance to check out the new Rivian charging outpost last Saturday in Southampton. It was super busy, with lots of activities, giveaways, food, etc.
I came back on Sunday morning (830 – 9ish?) to charge (for free), and it was way quieter – it was all employees packing up the marketing materials. The employees were very friendly and great to talk to. I saw RJ walk up with his family and head into the charging station. The employee I was talking to was pretty stunned so it may have been unexpected. who knows.
I waited until he was free, introduced myself, and said, “Hey, RJ, I’m not an employee, but I wanted to just say congrats to you and the team on building a great product.”
He was incredibly gracious and interested in my point of view as an owner – we talked for about 5 minutes. I’ll attempt to paraphrase the conversation, as this is from memory.
He asked if I was an owner and which of the parked R1s was mine.
I pointed out my Limestone R1S, and he said “Oh, Gen1” (which I took as a subtle neg 🙂 )
I mentioned our R2 reservation, but we were disappointed to hear that Limestone was discontinued, as it’s our favorite color. Obviously profitability is important, but Limestone and Rivian Blue felt like signature colors.
He said they business-wise, they have to have black and white, but otherwise their philosophy is to take colors and shift them a few degrees to find interesting colors. “What’s a more interesting grey?” is what led to Limestone.
He said he got an email asking for permission to swap out Limestone in the paint shop, as the paint shop can only support a certain amount of concurrent color offerings.
He asked the team to extend Limestone, which I took to mean that the R1 Shop will continue to have Limestone for a little while, but not BTO.
Limestone will go away for a decent amount of time, but they intend to bring it back. I would guess this is R2 related? who knows. He also said he personally drives a Limestone.
That may seem like a cope, but RJ also said that California Dune off-white was a one-off, and not to expect it back – so he was willing to say a color was “gone.”
He then said, “Let me show you something cool the team sent me,” and he dug through his email and found an image of an R1 (I’m pretty sure it was quick, may have been R2) with a really bold new color, very different than anything they’ve released or shown so far. He was genuinely excited and also pointed out the new wheels, which I missed at first. I won’t spoil the color (since RJ was cool enough to show me), as I’m sure they have marketing plans.
Anyway, that’s it. Limestone is seemingly still around for R1 Store orders, but it will be going away for some time to create room in the paint process, but most importantly, it will be coming back.”
What stands out is not only the substance of the conversation but the fact that it happened at all. Scaringe did not arrive with handlers or press releases. He was a CEO on a quiet Sunday morning, pausing to talk about colors, reservations, and the sometimes thankless compromises between art and profitability. He even admitted that California Dune was permanently gone. That kind of candor is rare from the corner office of a car company.
What Makes RJ Scaringe Special
- Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, an MIT PhD, founded Rivian in 2009; he strategically chose academia to secure credibility for the brand when seeking early capital.
- In May 2024, Scaringe introduced the second‑generation R1S and R1T, calling them “our most capable products to date”, marking a pivotal evolution.
- Scaringe candidly described the Quad‑Motor trim as an “exercise in unnecessary capability,” yet showcased off‑road prowess like rock crawling and the innovative “kick turn.”
- The 2026 models leap into hyper-performance: 1,025 hp, 1,198 lb‑ft torque, 0‑60 mph in as little as 2.5 seconds, and 400‑mile range via 140‑kWh battery.
The color itself matters less than the philosophy behind it. Rivian has made an effort to approach paint with the same imagination it puts into chassis and battery packs. Scaringe explained that his team tries to adjust traditional shades by a few degrees to create something distinctive. It is how Limestone was born, a cooler, sharper alternative to the monotony of industrial grays. That he personally drives one says more about his convictions than any official statement could.
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Reactions across the Rivian community were telling. Owners remarked that it was unusual to see a chief executive so animated about product choices, much less paint. One described him as “genuinely excited” when showing off an unreleased color and wheel design from his own email. Another commented that he looked like “just another guy with his family,” which is perhaps the most telling review of all.
The history of automotive leadership is filled with bold promises that never materialized. Scaringe, by contrast, seems more invested in conversation than proclamation. He is less a distant executive and more a car enthusiast who happens to run a company, which is exactly what resonates with Rivian’s growing audience.
What To Expect From Rivian
- The new Tri‑Motor versions (upgraded, lighter with in-house motors) outpace previous Quads, R1S in 2.8 s, R1T in 2.7 s to 60 mph.
- Rivian’s engineering pivot: second-gen R1 models adopted zonal wiring, reducing weight (~44 lb) and materials, showing Scaringe’s focus on efficiency.
- Under Scaringe’s leadership, Rivian has raised over $13.5B, expanded manufacturing beyond Illinois, and ramped global ambition while maintaining a Founder-driven culture.
- Scaringe continues steering Rivian’s future strategy, from R2 platform planning to balancing profitability with adventurous brand identity.
Still, the business realities remain. Paint shops have limits. Black and white will always take priority because they sell in volume. Yet the fact that Scaringe interceded to keep Limestone available a little longer reveals a leader who cares about details others might dismiss. That balance between pragmatism and passion may prove critical as Rivian moves toward scaling production with the R2.
What endures is not just Limestone’s temporary disappearance or eventual return, but the impression that Rivian’s CEO values direct connection with the people who drive his trucks and SUVs.
In a marketplace crowded with anonymous crossovers and faceless executives, that counts for something. RJ Scaringe is not promising a miracle. He is promising a conversation. And in today’s automotive world, that is a revolution of its own.
Image Sources: Rivian Media Center
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.
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Source: torquenews.com
