Rivian eyes tech supplier role beyond EVs
Original: TechCrunch Mobility: Rivian’s next act
Why This Matters
Rivian's platform pivot could redefine how automakers monetize software and autonomy IP.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe outlined ambitions at TechCrunch Disrupt to evolve beyond EV manufacturing, pointing to AI models, custom silicon, a $5.8B VW joint venture, and an Uber robotaxi partnership as pillars of a broader tech strategy.
At TechCrunch Disrupt, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe sketched a version of Rivian that looks far less like a truck company by 2030. The automaker has developed proprietary AI models for its in-vehicle assistant and is building an end-to-end autonomous driving stack for passenger vehicles and robotaxis in partnership with Uber. It's also co-developing a 5nm processor with Arm and TSMC — a rare move for any automaker, let alone one still scaling production.
The $5.8 billion joint venture with VW Group, initially focused on electric architecture and software, may expand to cover AI and autonomy. Scaringe openly discussed licensing Rivian's tech to "many different brands," signaling aspirations as a platform company rather than just a manufacturer.
Scaringe has also spun out a micromobility skunkworks into a startup called Also, and founded Mind Robotics — an industrial robotics company 31% owned by Rivian. Former Ford, Apple, and Tesla executive Doug Field has been hired as Mind Robotics' president. Rivian itself is a prospective customer for those robots.
"I'm wildly excited about what the next 10 years look like in transportation," Scaringe told TechCrunch, imagining new vehicle form factors built around full autonomy. The clearest label for what Rivian is becoming: tech supplier.