After Investing 5 billion Euros In Rivian, VW Was Impressed

Volkswagen is looking to strengthen its partnership with American electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian just months after the two companies announced plans to jointly develop a new electric architecture and software platform for future vehicles.

The German auto giant sees itself as a mentor of sorts, with CEO Oliver Blume hinting that VW’s size and resources could provide Rivian with a critical position in the competitive electric vehicle market.

Speaking to German magazine Speigel, Blume explained that a company the size of VW brings unique advantages. “For example, we are thinking about sharing modules and grouping procurement volumes,” he said, emphasizing that “the Volkswagen Group offers great opportunities for a small brand like Rivian.”

• Also See: Volkswagen Increases Joint Venture Investments With Rivian

Volkswagen has already invested 5 billion euros in Rivian, and the American company appears to be playing a key role in designing the next-generation electronic architecture that VW plans to introduce in its future vehicles. According to the German magazine, Rivian’s programmers and engineers are leading the development of a simplified system that promises to revolutionize VW’s approach to vehicle electronics.

This new architecture will consolidate the complexity of existing systems. While today’s VW vehicles rely on as many as 100 control units, the new setup will use just seven compact control units to manage critical systems. These units will integrate semiconductors, sensors, and cables to control everything from infotainment to advanced driver assistance features, promising to offer a simpler, smarter, and potentially more reliable system.

Among the first VW Group products to use the new architecture will be Porsche’s long-awaited large seven-seat SUV and the next-generation VW Golf. The recently revived Scout brand will also benefit from the partnership, with its rugged Terra and Traveler models incorporating Rivian’s advanced technology.

The first VW model to officially feature Rivian’s electronic architecture is expected to arrive in 2027, but the new system will likely debut in the Rivian R2. Rivian managed to integrate its software into a VW test vehicle in just 12 weeks last year, impressing the Germans.

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