Volkswagen Group to collaborate with Rivian Automotive

The Volkswagen Group and Rivian Automotive have announced that they will be collaborating on a new joint venture, named Rivian and VW Group Technology.

Through this joint venture, both firms plan to bring next-generation electrical architecture and best-in-class software technology into their respective future electric vehicles. The venture is targeting to use Rivian's existing electrical architecture and software technology stack enabling the launch of Rivian's R2 in the first half of 2026, and will also support the launch of new models from the Volkswagen Group from 2027.

The venture also aims to scale technology across a wide range of price points and international markets, so as to bring high-volume vehicles complete with advanced automated driving functions and capable of receiving over-the-air updates and upgrades.

Teams from Rivian and the Volkswagen Group are said to have already successfully demonstrated the potential of their collaboration with an initial drivable demonstrator vehicle. Developed in just 12 weeks, this vehicle is said to have been retrofitted to run on Rivian's proven in-market zonal hardware design and integrated technology platform.