Rivian says different automakers ‘knocking on door’ about tech from VW three way partnership

By Abhirup Roy

PALO ALTO, California (Reuters) -A three way partnership between U.S. electrical pickup and SUV maker Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN) and Volkswagen (ETR:VOWG_p) is in talks with different automakers about supplying their software program and electrical structure, a senior Rivian government stated on Thursday.

The German automaker agreed in November to take a position $5.8 billion within the three way partnership, which is able to combine superior electrical infrastructure and Rivian’s software program expertise for each firms’ future electrical automobiles.

Whereas a three way partnership will give Rivian greater volumes to barter higher provider offers and scale back prices, seen as important amid a slowdown in EV demand, Volkswagen and doubtlessly different conventional automakers will get fast and easy accessibility to expertise and software program they’ve struggled to construct for years.

“I would say that many different OEMs are knocking on our door,” Rivian Chief Software program (ETR:SOWGn) Officer Wassym Bensaid stated in an interview, referring to Authentic Gear Producers, a phrase used to explain car makers.

Bensaid, who can also be co-CEO of the three way partnership, declined to supply names of the automakers and particulars on what stage the talks have been at.

Rivian’s structure requires fewer digital management models and considerably much less wiring, lowering car weight and simplifying manufacturing. The expertise is core to constructing automobiles with software program that could possibly be up to date over the air like a smartphone – what the trade calls “software-defined automobiles”, an space the place established automakers are nonetheless working behind.

“There may be demand,” stated Bensaid, including that the precedence till 2027 was to roll out the R2, Rivian’s smaller, less-expensive SUV and to combine the expertise in different Volkswagen manufacturers. “Clearly different OEMs are speaking to us and we’re attempting to determine the right way to help that sooner or later.”

“Every other OEM who desires to make a leap from a expertise standpoint, the three way partnership at the moment turns into one of many key companions with whom they’ll make that collaboration,” he stated.

The enterprise is prone to turn into the platform of selection within the Western world aside from Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), Canaccord Genuity analysts stated in a word. The three way partnership additionally helps alleviate “a big chunk of the capital concern” for Rivian, the analysts stated.