I Visited Rivian and Tesla Showrooms in NYC. the Vibes Were Opposite. | Invesloan.com

Rivian is renovating its Meatpacking District space, so I toured the showroom on 366 Wythe Ave in Brooklyn. It’s an open space with a garage door entrance and front door.

Rivian had a Tri-Motor R1S SUV and a Tri-Motor R1T truck at its Brooklyn store.

It’s an eco-friendly choice — but also an expensive one.

The employees were friendly and laid-back. The showroom didn’t have a traditional office space for employees, just casual seating and some longer desks.

There were white shade lamps hanging down from the ceiling, large leafy plants placed throughout the store, and lots of funky patterns, like stripes and checkers in different colors.

There seemed to be no shortage of lounge seating.

Next to it was a neon green circle cushion and two padded chairs with wooden side tables. The area was large and included orange, red, blue, and green accents.

A station with blocks and toys was on the table in front of the couch. The store also showed off accessories like a camping bag tucked in the car.

The spokesperson said that people generally come in wanting to buy a Rivian or to learn more about EVs. They often have questions about charging, she said.

A Rivian spokesperson said that the company makes an effort to be a part of the local community. In March, it hosted an event with Roseate and the Billion Oyster Project that included a panel conversation, networking, and test drives of its vehicles.

This Sunday, it’s hosting a Mother’s Day flower crown-making event. A Rosie Day, a local children’s programmer, is coming to the space to teach attendees how to create flower crowns, the spokesperson said.

Rivian featured a table with ANYBAG bags. According to its website, the brand repurposes single-use plastic bags and handcrafts them in Manhattan by New Yorkers.

I had the option of driving or being driven. I chose to be driven. The experience was very tech-forward and smooth. The digital screen has a cartoon-like representation of the vehicle.

I spent about an hour at the store, and there weren’t too many visitors. The spokesperson told me that the store gets most of its traffic on the weekends, but there are still walk-ins and demo drive sign-ups during the week.

The showroom was located at 860 Washington Street in the heart of the Meatpacking District.

When I arrived, an employee was cleaning the windows at the entrance. Throughout my time at the showroom, the cleaning staff was dusting off counters and walls.

On a Thursday afternoon, Tesla had a handful of visitors come in and out of the showroom.

A sales employee at the store told me that on the weekends, they do about 200 test rides in a day, and most of them are with the Cybertruck.

The store mostly featured a monochromatic palette of Black, white, silver, and gray. There was an occasional tint of red or blue from the posters on the wall, the Tesla logo in the entrance, or the car lights.

There were some seating options at Tesla’s showroom, but the layout mainly provided standing space.

There doesn’t seem to be a shortage of children excited about the Cybertruck. However, the space didn’t feel as set up to cater to families with children in the way Rivian seemed to be.

Similar to Rivian, Tesla displayed an EV charger on the wall.

The Tesla wall art was more minimalistic than Rivian, and seemed to be more aesthetically driven than educational.

Instead of including explanatory graphics and text about EV charging, Tesla had photos of its core products and light descriptions with more of an advertisement feel.

Despite recent backlash surrounding the Cybertruck, it seemed to be the showroom’s main attraction and was located at the front of the entrance. Many of the visitors who came to the showroom seemed to be there for the Cybertruck.

Tesla had key pieces of its autonomous driving tech on display. The Full Self-Driving computer and Autopilot Cameras were featured in a clear glass box next to the window, making it feel like a museum.

Tesla also had a humanoid robot facing the window in the center of the space. The company isn’t selling the robots, which are still in development.

While the employees were friendly, they gave me space to walk around on my own and didn’t ask me any questions about my plans for purchasing a vehicle.

I declined a beverage, but it made the experience feel more luxurious.

The sales employee showed me how the digital screen worked and then took me on the drive. He started the drive off by showing off Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology, which costs extra and is currently in beta. The car drove to the Shake Shack a few minutes away.

Then, the employee showed me how fast the Cybertruck could accelerate. Depending on the model, Tesla says it can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.6 to 6.2 seconds. However, because of the area we were in, we couldn’t accelerate at the maximum rate.

Still, it was the fastest I’ve ever accelerated in a vehicle.

While Rivian sold outdoorsy clothing and reusable bags from local vendors, Tesla’s merchandise section was about the Tesla brand. It featured hats with logos, key cards and fobs, and collectible mini items like the Cybertruck.

One of the employees told me that foot traffic to the store hadn’t really changed. I asked the employee about one of the recent protests at the store on Earth Day, and he said a very small number of people showed up. He said protesters usually take their pictures and leave, and it’s not as crazy as it might seem online.

Looking back at both of my experiences, Rivian seemed to target a more down-to-earth, environmentally friendly crowd. The brand emphasized outdoor adventures and informed customers about EV ownership.

Tesla, on the other hand, came across as a brand that didn’t need much introduction or explaining. Its showroom felt more like a space for people who know the name and wanted to experience the tech in person, perhaps to get a closer look at the Cybertruck’s angular design. While I don’t feel like I need all the cutting-edge tech that Tesla offers — and I’m not in the market for a new car — it was cool to see in person and try out.

I liked the design elements of both showrooms. Rivian’s boho vibe was relaxing, while Tesla’s product lineup was impressive.

I didn’t walk away with a favorite, but I can see how EV shoppers might identify with one brand more than the other. After all, they’re each taking very different approaches.