Updated 6:35 PM ET: Rivian statement added and lede and headline updated for accuracy.
Rivian Automotive said it would recall 502 2022 R1T all-electric trucks in a recall issued by the NHTSA on May 10. The R1T may have improperly calibrated front passenger airbags due to a miscalibrated seat sensor, a defect that will require Rivian to replace the front passenger seat free of charge.
“Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022 R1T vehicles,” the recall summary on the NHTSA website states. “The Occupant Classification System (OCS) may not deactivate the airbag when a child or child seat occupies the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, ‘Occupant Crash Protection.’”
The recall will require R1T owners to visit any of the automaker’s service centers across the country for a free replacement of the entire front passenger seat.
In the Safety Recall Report issued by the agency, it said Rivian vehicles produced from September 21, 2021, to May 12, 2022, would be possibly affected by the airbag defect. Rivian stopped building vehicles with suspect seat assemblies on May 12. The population of 502 vehicles was determined by supplier seat manufacturing records, seat calibration data, and Rivian component traceability information. “Due to a defect during supplier manufacturing of the seat, the calibration of the OCS does not perform consistently,” the description of the cause said.
Rivian lists its supplier for the tainted part as Hyundai Transys Michigan, LLC. According to the filing, “In March 2022, deviations in the OCS performance were identified in the seat production by Rivian. Subsequently, the calibration system was investigated to evaluate root cause.” MGA Research Corporation then provided Rivian with a report in April 2022 that included test results that indicated the airbag may not be automatically deactivated when it was tested. Rivian said that it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue.
Rivian told Teslarati:
”Rivian has determined that on certain R1T vehicles, the front passenger seat may not deactivate the front passenger airbag as required if a child seat or child is in that seat. In the event of a crash which deploys the front passenger airbag, a seat with this improper calibration may increase the risk of injury for any child or child seat occupant sitting in the seat. We are contacting those with affected Rivian vehicles, and they will receive a passenger seat replacement free of charge at a Rivian service center. In the meantime, infants and children should not be placed in the front passenger seat of affected Rivian vehicles until a front passenger seat replacement is complete.”
The risk of safety caused by the airbag is due to the possible deployment of an airbag if a child or child seat occupies the front passenger seat of the vehicle. Airbags are dangerous for children age 12 and younger, according to the CDC. The agency also recommends never putting a rear-facing car seat in front of an airbag, as front passenger airbags can injure or even kill young children in the event of a crash.
Rivian will also be reimbursing owners for previous out-of-pocket repairs. However, the OCS and passenger seat for vehicles affected in the recall also are covered under the automaker’s 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty.
Rivian will begin notifying affected customers not to seat children or child seats in the front passenger seat of affected vehicles as soon as possible through text, emails, and in-vehicle messaging. Rivian’s notifications will mail to owners starting on or before July 1.
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News
Tesla is breaking even its own rules to cap off an intense Q3
Tesla is pulling out all the stops to have a strong Q3 as the EV tax credit will phase out.
Tesla is breaking its own rules by advertising on various platforms in an effort to sell as many cars as possible before the end of the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit.
Tesla has had a very polarizing perspective on advertising. Over the years, it has taken on different attitudes toward spending any money on marketing. It has instead put those dollars into research and development to make its vehicles more advanced.
Back in 2019, Tesla CEO Elon Musk talked about the company advertising its vehicles and energy products:
Tesla does not advertise or pay for endorsements. Instead, we use that money to make the product great. https://t.co/SsrfOq1Xyc
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 19, 2019
In 2021, in response to analyst Gary Black, who has pushed for Tesla to have a PR or marketing department, Musk said:
Other companies spend money on advertising & manipulating public opinion, Tesla focuses on the product.
I trust the people.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 27, 2021
However, this did not hold as Tesla’s strategy for the long haul. While Musk did resist advertising for a long time, Tesla started placing ads on platforms like X, Google, and YouTube several years back. It’s pretty rare that Tesla pushes these ads, however.
Tesla launches advertising on X in the U.S., expanding ‘small scale’ strategy outlined by Musk
The company’s stance on setting aside capital for advertising seems to be circumstantial. Right now, it is working to sell as many vehicles as it can before the tax credit comes to a close.
As a result, it is pushing some ads on YouTube:
$TSLA is starting to advertise on YouTube. pic.twitter.com/1cwO2KNzJm
— Cole Grinde (@GrindeOptions) August 15, 2025
It’s a move that makes sense considering the timing. With just six weeks roughly left in the quarter, Tesla is going to work tirelessly to push as many cars into customer hands as possible. It will use every ounce of effort to get its products on people’s screens.
Tesla counters jab at lack of advertising with perfect response
Throw in one of the many incentives it is offering currently, and there will surely be some takers.
News
Tesla rival’s CEO makes shock suggestion to customers about Model Y
“The Model Y is a great car, and Tesla also announced a number of promotions yesterday, so you might want to consider it.”
Tesla rival Xiaomi is experiencing demand that is off-the-charts with its new YU7 crossover, which competes with the Model Y. The company’s CEO has stated that demand is truly outpacing what it can build, and that customers in limbo should consider the Model Y because “it’s a great car.”
The Xiaomi YU7 has already gained an incredible number of orders so far. Its launch a few months ago had consumers busting down doors to place an order before others, and demand has been so high that customers will wait, on average, between 56 and 59 weeks for delivery.
Within 18 hours, Xiaomi received about 240,000 orders, CarScoops reported. Some customers are truly interested in the vehicle, but cannot wait the extended period to take delivery as they might need a car now.
Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said on social meida that there are other cars out there that would be suitable as a replacement to the YU7:
“If you need to buy a car quickly, other China-produced new energy vehicles are pretty good.”
He explicitly mentioned the Model Y, Xpeng G7, and Li Auto i8.
Regarding the Model Y, he said:
“The Model Y is a great car, and Tesla also announced a number of promotions yesterday, so you might want to consider it.”
The Model Y has been the best-selling car in the world over the past two years, and it still leads in many markets as the most sought-after EV. However, in China, there are so many formidable competitors that customers are seemingly going for whatever they can get to first.
Of course, a car is a car, but Tesla has gained a more notable reputation for its industry-leading tech and driver assistance systems, including City Autopilot, which has been used in China for a few months now.
Tesla China owners share first impressions of FSD-style “City Autopilot”
Tesla is offering a tasty Supercharging incentive on inventory Model 3 units in Canada as it continues to push sales in the third quarter.
In the United States, Tesla is preparing for the end of the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit. While it is offering a multitude of incentives in the U.S. to help push sales of its vehicles before the credit goes away, it is not saving the deals for Americans exclusively.
Yesterday, the company announced it is now offering Free Supercharging for life on all Model 3 inventory in Canada, a massive incentive for those who would use the vehicle as a daily driver:
Unlimited road trips through Canada
Free Supercharging now on all Model 3 inventory 🇨🇦
— Tesla North America (@tesla_na) August 15, 2025
The deal would normally only apply to Superchargers located in Canada, meaning if a Canadian drove over the border into the United States and Supercharged, they would have to pay for it.
However, Tesla also confirmed that the charging deal would extend to the U.S. Canadians will be able to drive across the U.S. and Supercharge for free for the life of the vehicle.
Free Supercharging is such a great perk because the money an owner saves on charging factors directly into what they are saving if they were to own a gas car. While Supercharging and home charging are, on average, cheaper than filling up with gas, the savings are not massive.
When Supercharging is free, it can save consumers hundreds of dollars per month, especially if they plan to use the Tesla for their daily commute. Some people could fill their gas cars up two times a week to get to work, spending $80-$100 every five days on gas.
Tesla has been using incentives like this to push vehicles into customers’ hands. Q3 could be one of the best three-month spans in recent memory with the push it is making.
Tesla is breaking even its own rules to cap off an intense Q3
Tesla rival’s CEO makes shock suggestion to customers about Model Y
Tesla offers tasty Supercharging incentive as Q3 push continues
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