Rivian Just Crippled Its Referral Program and It Feels Like a Slap in the Face

Rivian’s updated referral program quietly launched today, and for a lot of owners, it might seem like business as usual. But for those of us who’ve spent years sharing our experience, helping others make the leap, and sending dozens, sometimes hundreds, of people into Rivians, this new structure feels like a punch to the gut.

Here’s how the new setup works:

• When a new buyer uses your referral code and takes delivery of a qualifying Rivian, they get 500 Rivian Rewards points.
• You get points too, but the more referrals you’ve already made, the fewer points you get going forward:
  • 500 points for your first 10
  • 250 points for 11–25
  • 100 points for 26–50
  • 50 points for 51–100
  • Just 25 points per referral beyond 101

Now let’s be clear: this change will only affect a small group of owners. The vast majority will never hit those higher tiers, and some might look at this frustration and think it sounds entitled. That’s fair. But this isn’t really about the points. It’s about recognition, or the lack of it, for the people who have spent serious time and effort being ambassadors for the brand.

This new structure feels like a missed opportunity to build on the momentum the community helped create.