Its investor report comes a day after Volkswagen Group announced a US$5-billion investment in the EV manufacturer
- EV manufacturer Rivian teased five possible new vehicles in its latest report to investors
- The presentation was made a day after Volkswagen Group pledged a US$5-billion investment
- The VW-Rivian joint venture will be primarily about sharing software and technology
The slide was more about Rivian’s software and how it will be used across multiple platforms, rather than “Here is every vehicle we’re going to launch!” information. But the covered models appear to hint at midsize or compact sport-utilities and crossovers.
The R2 was originally announced with a price tag of US$45,000 – the R1S starts at US$75,900 – so it would be quite a coup for Rivian to send out an “affordable mass-market” vehicle that might be expected to undercut the R2.
Of course this is all just speculation, and given that the slide’s title was about the software operating system, these vehicles could potentially be Volkswagen Group vehicles running Rivian’s system. That is, after all, one of the primary reasons for VW exchanging euros for greenbacks to invest in this California-based EV manufacturer: quite simply, Rivian’s ability to deliver quality software is superior to the over-budget and behind-schedule Cariad tech division that VW set up.
Among the 121 slides that Rivian presented to its investors, Rivian also said that it would simplify its electrical hardware, reducing the number of electronic control units from 17 in its current-generation vehicles; down to seven, all of them designed in-house, which reduces the amount of wiring and the vehicle’s weight, as well as cost. Upcoming vehicles will also have an improved battery pack and drive units, and lighter-weight bodies and components.
Combined in Canada and the U.S., Rivian had 33 service centres a year ago, and 59 today, and aims for more than 100 through 2025, along with more than 40 planned storefront “spaces,” up from 12 at the moment. The company also said it expects to meet its goal of building 57,000 vehicles in 2024.
Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on Instagram ,Facebook and X to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.