How much more would you pay for a Launch Edition Scout

[Mousehunter]

One problem that making launch fully loaded only is it sets consumer expectations. Ford advertised a $40k truck, but then between dealers and trim - it was a $100k vehicle (ok >75k). Once the dust cleared, consumers already considered it too expensive - and it was very hard for them to get people to look at them. Tesla did the same with the Cybertruck. In the collective consciousness it is a 90k vehicle. Sure the price is not quite that currently. Tesla's one week sale of budget Cybertrucks at $60k just cemented in the 70k price for the foreseeable future. They might do a sale again later - but no reason now that they have reservations again.

Scout needs to get the collective consciousness to believe it is a $60k vehicle. Sure, people will add options that push that up - but you don't bother to go to the web site to design your vehicle if you think you can never afford it.

 

[RodorW]

One problem that making launch fully loaded only is it sets consumer expectations. Ford advertised a $40k truck, but then between dealers and trim - it was a $100k vehicle (ok >75k). Once the dust cleared, consumers already considered it too expensive - and it was very hard for them to get people to look at them. Tesla did the same with the Cybertruck. In the collective consciousness it is a 90k vehicle. Sure the price is not quite that currently. Tesla's one week sale of budget Cybertrucks at $60k just cemented in the 70k price for the foreseeable future. They might do a sale again later - but no reason now that they have reservations again.

Scout needs to get the collective consciousness to believe it is a $60k vehicle. Sure, people will add options that push that up - but you don't bother to go to the web site to design your vehicle if you think you can never afford it.

The thing they should do is offer a “loaded” launch model to first round reservation holders (meaning all reservation holder get the option 1 time or you wait for a second or third round for something more specific you want like a color) that would be very well optioned but offered at a price as close as possible to the promised price, but who knows what the real approach will be when time comes

 

[speedrye]

The thing they should do is offer a “loaded” launch model to first round reservation holders (meaning all reservation holder get the option 1 time or you wait for a second or third round for something more specific you want like a color) that would be very well optioned but offered at a price as close as possible to the promised price, but who knows what the real approach will be when time comes

That's what Toyota did with the new Land Cruiser "First Edition". It didn't go well since the demand at that price point simply wasn't there and those launch models were still sitting on lots when the cheaper models arrived. $70k-80k for a gussied up 4Runner didn't fly, especially since the more desirable features were saved for the GX version. I don't know if this business model works now that we're past post-pandemic supply/demand issues. Promising a price point, then not offering the vehicle at that price point turns a lot of people off to a brand (ahem, Tesla). Just build the vehicles the early deposit holders want. Some will want the loaded versions while many will not, but let that choice be the customer's, not Scout's.

 

[TelemarkingSailor]

I put in a 10% premium on the poll.

It's definitely tough because having one of the first trucks off the line gives you kind of a DeLorean anxiety, so I'm not sure I'd like for small optional features to be included in the vehicle, like a key fob or a paint color.

Instead, I'd like to see some love from the company in terms of a VIP tour or a banquet lunch with the factory team to celebrate the launch deliveries. To me, that would be something pretty special and something that I'd remember for much longer than I would probably have the car.

 

[Logan]

I put in a 10% premium on the poll.

It's definitely tough because having one of the first trucks off the line gives you kind of a DeLorean anxiety, so I'm not sure I'd like for small optional features to be included in the vehicle, like a key fob or a paint color.

Instead, I'd like to see some love from the company in terms of a VIP tour or a banquet lunch with the factory team to celebrate the launch deliveries. To me, that would be something pretty special and something that I'd remember for much longer than I would probably have the car.

I'm the opposite here. Not trying to sound rude, but I don't want the price of a VIP tour/banquet to increase the price of my vehicle. Personally, I don't see that as a value add, I see it as a value decrease (costs me time, and money, a lot of it... like a week, as I'm like 2500 miles away).

If someone wants to pay extra to have a deluxe delivery experience as part of the launch edition, go for it, doesn't bother me at all. But any money spent giving people a VIP tour, shouldn't be added to the price of my vehicle, if I'm not attending something like that (as I've said before, due to my personality, and location, I'm just don't care enough to want to try to attend a factory delivery/VIP tour/Gladhanding event).

 

[J Alynn]

I put in a 10% premium on the poll.

It's definitely tough because having one of the first trucks off the line gives you kind of a DeLorean anxiety, so I'm not sure I'd like for small optional features to be included in the vehicle, like a key fob or a paint color.

Instead, I'd like to see some love from the company in terms of a VIP tour or a banquet lunch with the factory team to celebrate the launch deliveries. To me, that would be something pretty special and something that I'd remember for much longer than I would probably have the car.

I’ll remember the reveal event forever. Such a cool experience so maybe some form of that happens once a quarter for factory delivery and 6 or 8 people get drawn out of hat and get a premium delivery experience. That would be pretty sweet

 

[cyure]

I’ll remember the reveal event forever. Such a cool experience so maybe some form of that happens once a quarter for factory delivery and 6 or 8 people get drawn out of hat and get a premium delivery experience. That would be pretty sweet

Oh I love that idea!

 

[dleepnw]

Just for comparison, Rivian R2 "Launch Edition" is their top-line trim and additionally includes:

• Launch key fob
• Tow Package
• Autonomy+
• Option of Launch Green paint

Yup, its not just an upcharge. And knowing Rivian, its probably going to include special badging in the interior that indicates its a launch edition

 

[Mousehunter]

While I would suspect there will be badging on the Rivian - the larger issue is a "Launch Green". It is a limited edition paint color. I am not sure if it was offered to all pre-orders, or only to launch edition pre-orders.

I can respect it more that limited editions that are not really available to the public (they are limited in run and dealers were limited in quotas - so they could get as much dealer up-charge as possible).

 

[R1TVT]

While I would suspect there will be badging on the Rivian - the larger issue is a "Launch Green". It is a limited edition paint color. I am not sure if it was offered to all pre-orders, or only to launch edition pre-orders.

I can respect it more that limited editions that are not really available to the public (they are limited in run and dealers were limited in quotas - so they could get as much dealer up-charge as possible).

Launch Green was only made available to the earliest reservation holders who had the ability to convert a reservation into a Launch Edition, but they could choose other free colors or pay-to-play colors if they wanted. The configurator was given to those early customers first, and the limited edition paint was available with NO UP-CHARGE. It was limited in the sense that once all the launch R1 vehicles were produced, you couldn't get Launch Green, even if you wanted to pay extra for it.

Once all Launch Editions were fulfilled, that color was over.

 

[cyure]

Launch Green was only made available to the earliest reservation holders who had the ability to convert a reservation into a Launch Edition, but they could choose other free colors or pay-to-play colors if they wanted. The configurator was given to those early customers first, and the limited edition paint was available with NO UP-CHARGE. It was limited in the sense that once all the launch R1 vehicles were produced, you couldn't get Launch Green, even if you wanted to pay extra for it.

Once all Launch Editions were fulfilled, that color was over.

Any idea how many they made?

 

[R1TVT]

Any idea how many they made?

I think around 5K maybe, but wasn't ever really fully disclosed I don't think.