joint venture which will adapt Rivian’s software and electrical architecture. This will happen through a 50/50 joint venture which the companies say will be finalized by the end of this year. VW Group hasn’t elaborated, but this deal has the potential to affect not just VW models but those from Audi, Porsche, Bentley, and the nascent Scout brand, not to mention brands not sold in the U.S.
In the immediate future, VW Group will adapt Rivian’s current software and electrical architecture to its brands’ vehicles as quickly as possible. According to the joint press release, the companies have already been working together for months to ensure Rivian’s tech can be adapted to VW Group products.
, with reporting late last year suggesting things had gotten so bad Audi was considering buying software from a Chinese OEM rather than wait for Cariad to get it together. Problems with Cariad software led to delays in releasing not only VW products like the ID.3 and ID.4, but also Audi and Porsche products including the Q6 e-tron and Macan EV. Cariad went through two restructurings last year and laid-off thousands of employees as VW attempted to right the ship.