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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 instructed us could be the corporate’s most vital occasion. I’m unsure I’d categorize it as such, however how about I let the journalist on the bottom give his evaluation?
By way of Sean (and some of my ideas sprinkled in) after the occasion …
It was straightforward to get misplaced within the buzz phrases at instances throughout Rivian’s “Autonomy & AI Day” this week. However there was a transparent underlying message being shared: Rivian is making an attempt to construct an organization that’s about extra than simply promoting automobiles.
It’s not going so far as Tesla. For example, there have been no humanoid robots wandering across the firm’s Palo Alto campus.
However 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 in the present day can be utilized on about 135,000 miles of street — will broaden to three.5 million miles and embody floor streets. This expanded functionality, which is able to launch in early 2026 and ultimately embody point-to-point hands-free (however eyes on) automated driving comes with a price of $2,500 or $49.99 per thirty days.
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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 may most likely be an upcharge, though Rivian didn’t say if it might be greater than the $2,500 charge.
However there’s one other situation we must also contemplate: licensing its tech to others.
In spite of everything, 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 yr with Additionally (mobility) and Thoughts 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 elements just like the customs processor. And after I requested CEO RJ Scaringe if Rivian will promote the processor to Thoughts Robotics, he responded wryly: “It doesn’t take a lot of imagination.”
On the most abstracted stage, bolting new income traces to the present automotive enterprise (particularly if these new initiatives play good with the automobiles) is smart. Who doesn’t love more cash?
Right 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 massive on autonomy with customized silicon, lidar, and a touch at robotaxis
Somewhat hen
Nothing this week — or ought to I say, thanks for the guidelines, everybody, however there’s nothing I can share but.
Within 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 considerations 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 effective after one tense second firstly. The dangers are excessive for public demos, which is why many corporations keep away from them. Kudos to Rivian for going for it.
Acquired a tip for us? E mail Kirsten Korosec at [email protected] or my Sign at kkorosec.07, or e mail Sean O’Kane at [email protected].
Offers!
At the beginning of 2025, I didn’t suppose TechCrunch would publish an aviation-startup-meets-data-center story. However right here we’re.
Plane startup Increase Supersonic kicked off 2025 by breaking the sound barrier with its XB-1 demonstrator civil plane. And it’s ending the yr with a plan to promote a model of its turbine engine as a stationary energy plant. Its first buyer might be knowledge middle startup Crusoe.
Below the deal, Crusoe will purchase 29 of Increase’s 42-megawatt generators for $1.25 billion to generate 1.21 gigawatts for its knowledge facilities.
Increase has raised $300 million to assist commercialize this new enterprise. The spherical was led by Darsana Capital Companions with participation from Altimeter Capital, Ark Make investments, Bessemer Enterprise Companions, 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.
Different offers that obtained my consideration …
Self-driving vehicles firm Aurora Innovation made a industrial settlement with Detmar Logistics to autonomously transport frac sand within the Permian Basin.
Some offers don’t at all times work out, or they modify. Take SK On and Ford, as an illustration.
4 years in the past, Ford and South Korean battery maker SK On struck a deal to type a three way partnership and spend $11.4 billion to construct factories in Tennessee and Kentucky that may produce batteries for the following era of electrical F-Collection vehicles. Now the three way partnership is ending and the 2 corporations will divide the property: Ford will take possession and operation of the dual battery crops in Kentucky, whereas SK On will function the manufacturing facility on the large BlueOval SK campus in Tennessee.
Vatn Techniques, a Rhode Island-based startup creating autonomous underwater autos, raised $60 million in a Collection A funding spherical led by BVVC.
Notable reads and different tidbits
700Credit, an organization that runs credit score checks and id verification companies for auto dealerships throughout america, stated a knowledge breach affected no less than 5.6 million individuals who had their names, addresses, dates of beginning, and Social Safety numbers stolen.
The previous CEO of bankrupt EV startup Canoo had pledged to supply help 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 deliver two inexpensive Ford-branded autos to the European market in 2028. Ford will lead the design and Renault will assemble the autos at its manufacturing facility 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 prime HR executives referred to him as a “German Nazi.”
Subaru unveiled its Uncharted EV and the specs may appeal to consumers. The Uncharted Premium trim EV may 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 lady in San Francisco gave beginning inside a Waymo robotaxi en path to UCSF Medical Middle. And nope, this isn’t the primary child born in a Waymo. Learn on to be taught extra.
In the meantime on the Waymo information entrance, a leaked letter from Tiger International Administration to its traders 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 desires so as to add robotaxis to its car-share fleet, beginning with newcomer Tensor. Senior reporter Sean O’Kane digs in.
Another factor …
I requested and also you answered. Due to all of the readers who participated within the final ballot. As a reminder, I requested: The tempo of autonomous car growth has quickened, prompting extra scrutiny and questions round security and accountability. Ought to corporations keep the course, scale sooner, or faucet the brakes?
About 48% of you picked “stay the course.” Almost 23% selected scale sooner, whereas 29.4% of readers need corporations to faucet the brakes.
