Rivian is forcing some customers to wait years for their vehicle deliveries — and it risks alienating them at a critical time in its fight to become the next Tesla

• Rivian's earnings this week missed analyst expectations.
• The EV startup is planning to make fewer cars this year than many anticipated.
• Rivian runs the risk of alienating customers who have been waiting years for their vehicles.

Rivian is facing a challenge to win back some of its earliest supporters as the burgeoning electric-vehicle maker continues to struggle with building enough cars to meet demand.