Articles tagged with "Rivian"
TechCrunch 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
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