TechCrunch Mobility: Rivian’s survival plan includes greater than automobiles | TechCrunch

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Senior reporter Sean O’Kane popped over to Palo Alto to take a look at Rivian’s Autonomy & AI Day, which some insiders advised us can be the corporate’s most essential occasion. I’m undecided I might categorize it as such, however how about I let the journalist on the bottom give his evaluation? 

Via Sean (and some of my ideas sprinkled in) after the occasion …

It was simple to get misplaced within the buzz phrases at occasions throughout Rivian’s “Autonomy & AI Day” this week. But there was a transparent underlying message being shared: Rivian is attempting to construct an organization that’s about extra than simply promoting automobiles. 

It’s not going so far as Tesla. For occasion, there have been no humanoid robots wandering across the firm’s Palo Alto campus.

But it’s clearly constructing out different revenue-generating merchandise — and superior driver help is on the beginning gates. 

Rivian’s hands-free model of its driver-assistance software program — which right now can be utilized on about 135,000 miles of street — will develop to three.5 million miles and embrace floor streets. This expanded functionality, which can launch in early 2026 and finally embrace point-to-point hands-free (however eyes on) automated driving comes with a price of $2,500 or $49.99 monthly.

Then there’s its future hands-off, eyes-off system. Rivian revealed it has developed its personal customized 5nm processor, which it says might be inbuilt collaboration with each Arm and TSMC. That chip will energy Rivian’s “autonomy computer” — the spine of an upgraded automated-driving system —that can debut within the R2 SUV in late 2026. 

That will in all probability be an upcharge, though Rivian didn’t say if it could be greater than the $2,500 payment. 

But there’s one other situation we also needs to think about: licensing its tech to others. 

After all, Rivian already has a three way partnership with Volkswagen Group to share its electrical structure and base-level software program. And Rivian spun out two startups this 12 months with Also (mobility) and Mind Robotics (industrial AI and robotics). 

Barclays’ Dan Levy wrote Friday that “subsequent discussions reiterated hopes/potential” for Rivian to license its complete AV platform, or simply parts just like the customs processor. And after I requested CEO RJ Scaringe if Rivian will promote the processor to Mind Robotics, he responded wryly: “It doesn’t take a lot of imagination.”  

At probably the most abstracted stage, bolting new income strains to the present automotive enterprise (particularly if these new initiatives play good with the automobiles) is smart. Who doesn’t love extra money?  

Here’s our protection of the occasion:

Rivian is constructing its personal AI assistant (deeper dive into the tech). And it’s coming to its EVs in early 2026.

Rivian goes large on autonomy with customized silicon, lidar, and a touch at robotaxis

A bit of chook

Nothing this week — or ought to I say, thanks for the ideas, everybody, however there’s nothing I can share but.

In the meantime, right here’s a tiny tidbit to carry you over. As you learn above, senior reporter Sean O’Kane was at Rivian’s AI & Autonomy Day and one of many whispers he heard was concerning the firm’s public demo of its AI assistant and issues it won’t work. Apparently, the testing the morning of the occasion was a bit contact and go.

Alas, the general public demo went simply advantageous after one tense second in the beginning. The dangers are excessive for public demos, which is why many firms keep away from them. Kudos to Rivian for going for it.

Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or my Signal at kkorosec.07, or e-mail Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com.

Deals!

At the beginning of 2025, I didn’t suppose TechCrunch would publish an aviation-startup-meets-data-center story. But right here we’re. 

Aircraft startup Boom Supersonic kicked off 2025 by breaking the sound barrier with its XB-1 demonstrator civil plane. And it’s ending the 12 months with a plan to promote a model of its turbine engine as a stationary energy plant. Its first buyer might be knowledge heart startup Crusoe.

Under the deal, Crusoe will purchase 29 of Boom’s 42-megawatt generators for $1.25 billion to generate 1.21 gigawatts for its knowledge facilities.

Boom has raised $300 million to assist commercialize this new enterprise. The spherical was led by Darsana Capital Partners with participation from Altimeter Capital, Ark Invest, Bessemer Venture Partners, Robinhood Ventures, and Y Combinator. 

The plan is to make use of cash from its Superpower stationary turbine enterprise to fund the event of its supersonic plane. 

Other offers that obtained my consideration …

Self-driving vans firm Aurora Innovation made a industrial settlement with Detmar Logistics to autonomously transport frac sand within the Permian Basin.

Some offers don’t all the time work out, or they alter. Take SK On and Ford, as an example.

Four years in the past, Ford and South Korean battery maker SK On struck a deal to kind a three way partnership and spend $11.4 billion to construct factories in Tennessee and Kentucky that will produce batteries for the subsequent technology of electrical F-Series vans. Now the three way partnership is ending and the 2 firms will divide the property: Ford will take possession and operation of the dual battery vegetation in Kentucky, whereas SK On will function the manufacturing unit on the huge BlueOval SK campus in Tennessee.

Vatn Systems, a Rhode Island-based startup creating autonomous underwater automobiles, raised $60 million in a Series A funding spherical led by BVVC.

Notable reads and different tidbits

700Credit, an organization that runs credit score checks and identification verification companies for auto dealerships throughout the United States, mentioned a knowledge breach affected at the very least 5.6 million individuals who had their names, addresses, dates of start, and Social Security numbers stolen.

The former CEO of bankrupt EV startup Canoo had pledged to offer assist to NASA and the United States Postal Service so it might proceed to make use of the vans. Apparently, that wasn’t a convincing argument; NASA and USPS have stopped utilizing them.

Ford and Renault agreed to work collectively to convey two inexpensive Ford-branded automobiles to the European market in 2028. Ford will lead the design and Renault will assemble the automobiles at its manufacturing unit in northern France. 

Lucid is being sued by its former chief engineer Eric Bach, who alleges wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation. Bach, who’s of German heritage, additionally claims one of many automaker’s high HR executives referred to him as a “German Nazi.”

Subaru unveiled its Uncharted EV and the specs would possibly appeal to consumers. The Uncharted Premium trim EV can have a 300-mile vary and be priced a skosh above $36,000. Potential deal killer amongst Subie diehards? The Premium model is front-wheel drive solely. 

A pregnant girl in San Francisco gave start inside a Waymo robotaxi en path to UCSF Medical Center. And nope, this isn’t the primary child born in a Waymo. Read on to be taught extra. 

Meanwhile on the Waymo information entrance, a leaked letter from Tiger Global Management to its buyers disclosed that Waymo is now offering 450,000 robotaxi rides per week — almost double the quantity it disclosed this spring. Waymo declined to remark. 

Zevo needs so as to add robotaxis to its car-share fleet, beginning with newcomer Tensor. Senior reporter Sean O’Kane digs in.

One thing more …

I requested and also you answered. Thanks to all of the readers who participated within the final ballot. As a reminder, I requested: The tempo of autonomous car improvement has quickened, prompting extra scrutiny and questions round security and accountability. Should firms keep the course, scale quicker, or faucet the brakes?

About 48% of you picked “stay the course.” Nearly 23% selected scale quicker, whereas 29.4% of readers need firms to faucet the brakes.