Articles tagged with "Rivian"
Rivian receives the next $1B from Volkswagen as sales struggles continue
Rivian has secured the next $1 billion tranche from Volkswagen as part of their ongoing partnership, following the EV startup achieving its second-ever gross profit in Q1 2025. This funding comes through a share sale and builds on a prior $1 billion convertible note provided by Volkswagen late last year. The two companies have a joint venture valued at up to $5.8 billion, with Rivian contributing employee expertise and its software and electrical architecture designs, which Volkswagen plans to use in its future electric vehicles. Despite this financial boost, Rivian continues to face significant sales challenges. The company reported delivering 10,661 vehicles in Q2 2025, a 23% decline compared to the same quarter in 2024, and only a marginal improvement over its difficult first quarter. Rivian has lowered its 2025 sales forecast to between 40,000 and 46,000 EVs, which would still represent a decrease from previous years. Contributing factors include increased production costs
electric-vehiclesRivianVolkswagenautomotive-technologyEV-saleselectric-SUVselectric-pickup-trucksRivian cuts dozens on manufacturing team ahead of R2 launch
Rivian has laid off approximately 140 employees, about 1% of its workforce, primarily from its manufacturing team, as part of preparations for the launch of its more affordable R2 SUV scheduled for 2026. The layoffs began midweek and were attributed to efforts to eliminate "process inefficiencies" and improve operational efficiency ahead of the new vehicle’s release. Rivian confirmed the reductions and noted that affected employees are being encouraged to apply for other open roles within the company. The company started 2025 with over 14,800 employees across North America and Europe and has implemented multiple workforce reductions in recent years, including a 10% cut in early 2024 and another 1% reduction in April 2024. These ongoing layoffs reflect Rivian’s broader strategy to streamline operations as it prepares to expand its product lineup and compete in the increasingly competitive electric vehicle market.
energyelectric-vehiclesmanufacturingRivianautomotive-industryoperational-efficiencylayoffsTechCrunch Mobility: How Jony Ive’s LoveFrom helped Rivian and what Uber’s next-generation playbook looks like
The article from TechCrunch Mobility provides insights into recent developments in the transportation and mobility sector, focusing on key industry players and emerging partnerships. It highlights Elon Musk’s ongoing turbulent relationship with political figures, particularly his fallout with former President Donald Trump, which may have broad implications for Tesla’s business, including its autonomous vehicle initiatives and regulatory dealings. The article notes Musk’s pattern of volatile alliances and predicts continued instability affecting Tesla’s robotaxi experiments and legislative efforts like the Autonomous Vehicle Acceleration Act. A significant revelation is that Jony Ive’s design firm LoveFrom collaborated with Rivian’s design team during the development of a skunkworks program that eventually became a standalone company, underscoring the importance of creative partnerships in automotive innovation. The piece also covers notable deals such as Joby Aviation’s memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabian conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel, potentially accelerating Joby’s electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle market entry in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, several startups received funding rounds, including Obvio, which uses AI to improve driving safety, Portless, an e-commerce logistics startup, and Toma, an AI voice technology company targeting car dealerships. The article briefly mentions executive changes at Uber, suggesting these shifts may signal strategic moves for the company’s next-generation mobility playbook, though details are incomplete. Overall, the piece offers a snapshot of dynamic collaborations, funding activities, and leadership changes shaping the future of transportation technology.
robotautonomous-vehicleselectric-vehiclesTeslaRivianmobility-technologytransportation-innovationJony Ive’s LoveFrom helped design Rivian’s first electric bike
LoveFrom, the creative firm founded by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive, collaborated with Rivian on the development of the electric bike that marks Rivian’s first entry into micromobility. Over approximately 18 months, LoveFrom staff worked closely with Rivian’s design and engineering teams within a skunkworks program led by former Specialized executive Chris Yu. This secretive project, which began in early 2022, aimed to leverage Rivian’s EV technology to create a smaller, modular, and more affordable vehicle than its existing electric trucks and vans. LoveFrom’s involvement, starting in early 2023, focused on refining prototypes, user interface, user experience, and industrial design, bringing an interdisciplinary and international perspective to the product’s aesthetics and packaging. The skunkworks program eventually evolved into a startup called Also, backed by $105 million in funding from Eclipse Ventures and staffed by talent from Apple, Google, Tesla, and others. While details about the bike remain scarce, Rivian’s CEO RJ Scaringe described it as “bike-like” with basic components such as a seat, two wheels, a screen, computers, and a battery. Both Scaringe and Yu hinted at a broader vision for Also to explore various micromobility formats beyond the initial electric bike. The company plans to unveil its first designs later in 2024. LoveFrom’s collaboration with Rivian extends beyond this project, having previously consulted on Rivian’s infotainment system and retail experience, underscoring a close and ongoing relationship between the two firms.
electric-bikeRivianmicromobilitybattery-technologyEV-technologymodular-designtransportation-innovationCharging Up On the Rivian Adventure Network
energycharging-networkrenewable-resourceselectric-vehiclesfast-chargingsustainabilityRivianRivian earnings: EV maker cuts delivery guidance because of Trump’s tariffs and trade wars
energyelectric-vehiclesEVsautomotive-industrytariffscapital-expenditureRivianRivian Aims To Cement Future EV Sales With New Park For Suppliers
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-manufacturingsupply-chaininnovation-hubRiviansupplier-parkRivian’s reportedly sitting on a stockpile of tariff-free batteries
energybatteriesRivianelectric-vehiclestariffslithium-iron-phosphatesupply-chain