In a recent Q&A session with Doug DeMuro, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe provided a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the R1’s most legendary lost features: the removable roof. For years, early fans of Rivian have wondered what happened to the promise of an open-air Rivian, a feature that would have put the electric adventure vehicles in direct competition with icons like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.
Now, we finally have the official story - a short tale of an ambitious design, manufacturing realities, and a glimmer of hope for the future.
The Three-Piece Carbon Fiber Roof
In the interview, RJ confirmed that during the initial development of the R1 platform, Rivian didn’t just consider a removable roof. Instead, they fully engineered and built it. In fact, he also mentioned that a few of the prototypes sporting this special removable roof actually exist within Rivian’s internal fleet.
The design was a sophisticated, three-piece carbon-fiber top that would have replaced the entire standard glass roof, opening up the cabin to the elements. In a brilliant design choice, the three lightweight panels were designed to fit neatly into the R1’s frunk, meaning owners could easily and spontaneously remove their roofs.
That’s a fantastic way to really spice up an adventure, without needing extra hassle or space somewhere else in your vehicle. It truly would’ve leaned into Rivian’s adventure ethos and given us one of the first open-air electric vehicle experiences.
The Reality of Production
So, if the feature was fully tooled and prototypes exist… why can’t you buy one today? The answer, as is often the case in the auto industry, comes down to the immense difficulty of mass production.
RJ explained that they ultimately made the tough decision to cancel the feature for customers due to the added complexity it brought to production and significant challenges with the supply chain. Rivian has already struggled with the R1’s complex supply chain, and simplifying a complex item like this into a single glass roof option likely helped to cut down on production challenges considerably.
For a startup designing and scaling its first vehicle, ensuring a perfect seal and managing logistics for a complex, multi-piece roof system proved to be too much of a hurdle for the initial launch or even for the R1 Gen 2 refresh.
A Glimmer of Hope
While the removable roof for the R1 is officially off the table for now, it may not be gone forever. Acknowledging that the feature has immense appeal, RJ stated that he wouldn’t say never to the idea of bringing it back in the future.
That’s a glimmer of hope for fans of an open-air R1, that as Rivian’s manufacturing processes mature and their production lines finally settle, we may get a real open-air EV experience.
In the meantime, Rivian is building a more pragmatic means for an open-air experience. RJ confirmed that the R2 features a rear glass window that drops down into the tailgate. This combination is designed to bring fresh air right into the vehicle and pull it through the entire cabin, offering a different - but still fantastic way to connect with the outdoors on your adventure.
The inside story of the R1’s removable roof is a classic example of ambitious design meeting the harsh challenges of manufacturing and engineering. While it ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor, it now seems like it could come back in the future. Maybe one day we’ll see the R1 with the option of a removable roof.
You can watch the entire Q&A session below.
