Illinois' #EV ecosystem will continue to grow as @VWGroup plans to invest up to $5B in @Rivian. âš¡
This news builds upon Rivian's recent $1.5B investment, creating 550+ full-time jobs in Central Illinois. #BeInIllinois https://t.co/UzbaCVav1h
— IllinoisDCEO (@IllinoisDCEO) June 28, 2024
Rivian, the American electric vehicle maker, received a significant boost this week as Volkswagen, the German car manufacturer, announced plans to invest $5 billion in the company. The investment aims to strengthen Rivian’s production capabilities and provide reassurance to investors about its financial stability. Founded in 2009 as Mainstream Motors, Rivian has attracted notable investments from companies such as Amazon, BlackRock, and Ford.
Newsletter #192
· VW & Bosch Intend to Catch up to Tesla AP/FSD
· VW and Rivian announce a Joint Venture that likely will never Materialize
· Mobileye launches the first Autonomous Shuttle Pilot in Darmstadt, Germany
· CEO Blume Cancels Porsche as Company Car for VW Group Top… pic.twitter.com/z84xF5Z81U— Alex (@alex_avoigt) June 30, 2024
However, the EV maker has encountered difficulties in scaling up production, which were exacerbated by supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rivian has yet to achieve a quarterly profit, incurring losses of $5.4 billion in 2023 following substantial losses in previous years. The partnership with Volkswagen is expected to provide Rivian with crucial financial support and valuable managerial and software expertise.
VW Group CEO Blume about the Rivian Join Venture "When it comes to a major technical changeover, we can't do everything on our own," he said.
"It should be a win-win situation. The motivation from our side is to accelerate the software transformation at Volkswagen across all…
— Alex (@alex_avoigt) June 29, 2024
This knowledge transfer could be vital for Rivian as it strives to establish itself as a leading player in the EV market, often drawing comparisons to Tesla.
Volkswagen’s substantial Rivian investment
Rivian’s founder and CEO, R.J. Scaringe, emphasized the financial significance of Volkswagen’s investment, stating that the funds would enable the company to develop a new SUV model and complete the construction of a $5 billion factory in Georgia, in addition to its existing plant in Normal, Illinois.
The Rivian / VW partnership does not include infotainment software, motors, batteries or other parts of Rivian's R1 and R2 vehicle platforms, CEO RJ Scaringe said
— Auto News
— Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) June 29, 2024
“This is important for us financially,” Scaringe said, highlighting the critical nature of the investment for Rivian’s future growth and stability. Since the announcement, Rivian’s shares have experienced a surge of approximately 40%, indicating investor optimism about the potential impact of Volkswagen’s investment on the company’s prospects. The substantial investment from Volkswagen comes at a time when Rivian is planning to expand its production capabilities with the construction of the new Georgia factory.
The partnership is expected to not only provide essential financial support but also offer Rivian access to Volkswagen’s extensive expertise in manufacturing and software development. As Rivian continues to navigate the challenges of the EV market, the support from Volkswagen is seen as a significant step towards achieving its goals of becoming a major player in the industry. The investment is expected to help Rivian accelerate its growth plans and strengthen its position in the increasingly competitive EV landscape.
