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TechCrunch Mobility: Rivian's Vision for the Future of Transportation

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Sean O’Kane, a senior reporter, recently visited Palo Alto to attend Rivian’s Autonomy & AI Day. Sources within the company suggested this event would be pivotal. Let’s allow the reporter present to share his evaluation.

Following the event, Sean (with some additional insights from me) reported…

Rivian's Broader Ambitions

During Rivian’s “Autonomy & AI Day” this week, it was sometimes challenging to navigate the technical jargon. However, a central theme emerged: Rivian aims to be more than just an automotive manufacturer.

The company isn't mirroring Tesla's approach entirely. Unlike Tesla, there were no humanoid robots showcased on the Palo Alto campus.

Nevertheless, Rivian is actively developing additional revenue streams, with advanced driver-assistance systems poised for launch.

Expanding Driver-Assistance Capabilities

Rivian’s hands-free driver-assistance software, currently operational on approximately 135,000 miles of roadways, is set to expand to cover 3.5 million miles, including surface streets. This enhanced functionality, scheduled for release in early 2026, will eventually incorporate point-to-point hands-free (eyes-on) automated driving. Access will require a one-time payment of $2,500 or a monthly subscription of $49.99.

Next-Generation Autonomous Systems

Rivian also unveiled its future hands-off, eyes-off system. The company has designed a custom 5nm processor, developed in partnership with both Arm and TSMC. This chip will serve as the core of Rivian’s “autonomy computer,” powering an upgraded automated-driving system that will first appear in the R2 SUV in late 2026.

An additional cost for this upgrade is anticipated, though Rivian has not yet confirmed whether it will exceed the existing $2,500 fee.

Potential for Technology Licensing

Another possibility to consider is the potential for Rivian to license its technology to other companies.

Rivian already has a joint venture with Volkswagen Group focused on sharing electrical architecture and foundational software. Furthermore, the company launched two spin-off ventures this year: Also (focused on mobility) and Mind Robotics (specializing in industrial AI and robotics).

Dan Levy of Barclays noted on Friday that discussions suggest Rivian may be open to licensing its entire AV platform, or specific components like the custom processor. When asked if Rivian would sell the processor to Mind Robotics, CEO RJ Scaringe responded with a suggestive: “It doesn’t take a lot of imagination.”

Diversifying Revenue Streams

At a fundamental level, adding new revenue streams to the core automotive business – particularly if these projects complement the vehicles – is a logical strategy. The pursuit of increased profitability is a common goal.

Further Reading

Here is our detailed coverage of the event:

• Rivian is developing its own AI assistant (a detailed look at the technology). It will be integrated into its EVs in early 2026.
• Rivian is making significant investments in autonomy, including custom silicon, lidar technology, and exploring the potential of robotaxis.

Brief Update

There are no new developments to report this week. Despite receiving numerous suggestions, I currently have no information available for sharing.

However, a small piece of information is available to share. As previously mentioned, senior reporter Sean O’Kane attended Rivian’s AI & Autonomy Day. During the event, discussions arose regarding the potential functionality of the company’s AI assistant during its public demonstration.

Demo Concerns

Reportedly, initial testing conducted on the morning of the event presented some challenges. The system’s performance was somewhat uncertain leading up to the public unveiling.

Fortunately, the public demonstration proceeded successfully, albeit with a brief moment of tension at the beginning. Public demonstrations carry inherent risks, which explains why many organizations choose to avoid them. Rivian deserves recognition for its willingness to proceed.

Do you have information to share? Please contact Kirsten Korosec via email at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or Signal at kkorosec.07, or Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com.

Notable Transactions

It was unexpected, at the beginning of 2025, to anticipate TechCrunch covering a story that merges aviation startups with data center technology. However, that is precisely the situation we find ourselves in.

Boom Supersonic, an aircraft development company, began 2025 by successfully exceeding the speed of sound with its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft. Now, the company is concluding the year with a strategy to market a variant of its turbine engine for use as a fixed power source.

Crusoe, a data center startup, will be the inaugural purchaser, acquiring 29 of Boom’s 42-megawatt turbines for a total of $1.25 billion. This will provide 1.21 gigawatts of power for their data center operations.

Boom has secured $300 million in funding to facilitate the commercialization of this new venture. Darsana Capital Partners spearheaded the investment round, with contributions from Altimeter Capital, Ark Invest, Bessemer Venture Partners, Robinhood Ventures, and Y Combinator.

The generated revenue from the Superpower stationary turbine business is intended to support the ongoing development of Boom’s supersonic aircraft.

Further deals of interest include…

Aurora Innovation, a company focused on self-driving trucks, has established a commercial partnership with Detmar Logistics to enable the autonomous transportation of frac sand within the Permian Basin.

Not all agreements reach fruition, or they may undergo modifications. The situation involving SK On and Ford serves as an example.

Initially, four years ago, Ford and South Korean battery manufacturer SK On entered into an agreement to establish a joint venture and invest $11.4 billion in constructing facilities in Tennessee and Kentucky. These plants were designed to produce batteries for the next generation of electric F-Series trucks. Currently, the joint venture is being dissolved, and the assets will be redistributed.

Ford will assume ownership and operational control of the two battery plants located in Kentucky. Conversely, SK On will manage the factory situated within the expansive BlueOval SK campus in Tennessee.

Vatn Systems, a Rhode Island-based startup specializing in the development of autonomous underwater vehicles, successfully raised $60 million in a Series A funding round. BVVC led this investment.

Industry Updates and Recent Developments

700Credit, a provider of credit report and identity verification solutions for automotive dealerships nationwide, has announced a significant data security incident. The breach impacted a minimum of 5.6 million individuals, with compromised data including names, residential addresses, birthdates, and Social Security numbers.

EV Startup and Government Contracts

The previous CEO of Canoo, a now-bankrupt electric vehicle company, had previously committed to ongoing support for both NASA and the United States Postal Service regarding their use of Canoo vans. However, this pledge proved insufficient, leading to the cessation of van utilization by both agencies.

Ford and Renault Collaboration

Ford and Renault have reached an agreement to collaborate on the development of two new, budget-friendly Ford vehicles for the European automotive market. These vehicles are slated for release in 2028, with Ford taking the lead in design and Renault handling assembly at its manufacturing facility in northern France.

Lucid Group Legal Dispute

Lucid is currently facing a lawsuit filed by its former chief engineer, Eric Bach. The suit alleges wrongful dismissal, discriminatory practices, and retaliatory actions. Mr. Bach, who identifies as being of German ancestry, further asserts that a senior HR executive at the automaker made a derogatory remark referencing him as a “German Nazi.”

Subaru's New Electric Vehicle

Subaru has recently introduced its Uncharted EV, revealing specifications that may appeal to prospective buyers. The Uncharted Premium trim boasts a range of 300 miles and a price point slightly exceeding $36,000. A potential drawback for loyal Subaru enthusiasts is that the Premium model features front-wheel drive exclusively.

Waymo and Unexpected Deliveries

An extraordinary event occurred in San Francisco when a pregnant woman delivered a baby inside a Waymo robotaxi while en route to UCSF Medical Center. Remarkably, this marks the second instance of a birth taking place within a Waymo vehicle.

Waymo's Ride Volume

Confidential information from a leaked letter originating from Tiger Global Management, intended for its investors, reveals that Waymo is currently facilitating 450,000 robotaxi rides each week. This figure represents nearly a twofold increase compared to the number disclosed earlier this year. Waymo has declined to provide official commentary on this matter.

Zevo's Expansion Plans

Zevo is exploring the integration of robotaxis into its car-sharing service, beginning with vehicles from Tensor. Detailed reporting on this development is available from senior reporter Sean O’Kane.

Recent Reader Feedback on Autonomous Vehicle Progress

A recent inquiry was posed to our readership, and the responses have been received with gratitude. We extend thanks to everyone who took part in the previous poll.

To reiterate, the question presented was: Given the accelerated development of autonomous vehicles, and the increased attention to safety and responsibility, what is the appropriate path forward?

Poll Results Breakdown

The options presented were: maintain the current development speed, accelerate deployment, or slow down progress.

• Approximately 48% of respondents indicated a preference for maintaining the current course.
• Close to 23% advocated for a faster scaling of development and deployment.
• Just under 29.4% expressed a desire for companies to proceed with more caution and reduce the pace of advancement.

These results offer valuable insight into public perception regarding the ongoing evolution of self-driving technology.