Karmactive’s Post

Volkswagen Group is set to invest up to $5 billion in Rivian, forming a joint venture to leverage Rivian's advanced technology for future EVs. This partnership aims to enhance software development, reduce costs, and accelerate innovation. With an initial $1 billion investment and up to $4 billion in additional investments, VW gains access to Rivian's proven hardware design and integrated technology platform. Discover how this collaboration will shape the future of electric vehicles and benefit both companies. Read the full article below ⬇️ #VolkswagenGroup #Rivian #EVs #AutobodyNews

"Results from carmakers show the advantages of having a combustion-engine business to fund—and hedge—the transition to electric." It's a simple financial reality: Neither individuals nor companies can survive when their cash flow is way too volatile and unreliable. "The only [newcomer] companies that have made a meaningful financial success of EVs so far, Tesla and BYD, have done so by building scale." "Building electric vehicles is hugely capital intensive, and if the capital isn’t available in financial markets it needs to come from existing operations." Having a reliable source of cash flow (and a balance sheet with large cash and cash equivalents) enables firms to weather the storm and sustain the business for longer. Of course, the tacit knowledge and insights that incumbent OEMs have acquired over the last century should also not be discounted. One thing that may happen moving forward is ICEV OEMs acquiring struggling EV startups if such startups have a high brand recognition or a cult-like niche following. (Lucid, Rivian, Lordstowne?) Combined with ICEV OEMs' capabilities on mass production and financial resources, those 'brands' just may survive this era of ferment just like Buick, Oldsmobile, and Lincoln did. Or we may see big tech companies snapping up these struggling EV startups and ramp up production with the help of the so-called 'contract manufacturers,' i.e., the Foxconn of cars. No matter what happens, this is an exciting time to be an automotive sector enthusiast! #evtransition #automotiveindustry #industryevolution #cashflowmanagement #schumpeterianmark3

US Patented Electric Vehicle Regenerative Acceleration Innovation Zero-Cost Licensing to all EV and ICE OEMS to accelerate EV adoption and the transition to Clean Energy Mobility. Potential +/- Difference inc. is initiating EV Regenerative Acceleration ReGen-X eMotor manufacturing in the first quarter of 2025 and is now taking orders from all EV and ICE OEMs globally. The US patented EV Regenerative Acceleration innovation now provides all EVs with the ability to recharge themselves as they drive (ABOVE 30 km/hr) while still providing EV regenerative braking BELOW 30 km/hr. EV Regenerative Acceleration Innovation Demonstration https://lnkd.in/et346dZp EV driving range is increased while reducing the battery size, weight and cost by 80% or more. The EV Regenerative Acceleration innovation eliminated the need for Lithium batteries as well as Rare Earth Metals. Generator and Improved Coil Therefor Having Electrodynamic Properties Patent number: 10103591 (https://lnkd.in/e96q9SMS) Flyback Mode Process Harnessing Generator action in an Electric Motor Patent number: 10291162 (https://lnkd.in/eNWRDeb3) Eletric Vehicle Presentation for Tata Motors https://lnkd.in/e5ZhU6FA Thane C. Heins Founder and Chairman Potential +/- Difference inc. Prograde Propulsion HYPERgen THinc Loophole Intellectual Properties thaneh@potentialdifference.ca 1.613.293.1131 LinkedIn Thane Heins https://lnkd.in/e9jNqHbU "There exist limitless opportunities in every industry. Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier." ~ Charles Kettering https://lnkd.in/eg9Ri7Qj

■ Rivian and VW Group Officially Launch JV, Expand Deal Size to $5.8 Billion! Rivian and Volkswagen Group announced Tuesday the next step of its partnership revealed last July. By Cláudio Afonso  ■ Named Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies, the joint venture has a total deal size of up to $5.8 billion (up from $5 billion) and kicks off this Wednesday, November 13. ■ Aiming to offer customers “the best technological solution as early as possible,” both companies will allocate developers and software engineers to the joint venture. The offices will be split between four locations in America and Europe starting with Palo Alto, California. ■ Upon closing of the joint venture, Volkswagen Group will invest “about $1.3 billion” in exchange for background IP licenses and a 50% equity stake in the venture, according to both carmakers. Rivian’s electrical architecture and software technology stack will be used across several future models of the Volkswagen Group with the first ones expected to be launched in early 2027. Rivian’s chief executive RJ Scaringe said in a statement that the “finalization of our joint venture with Volkswagen Group marks an important step forward in helping transition the world to electric vehicles. We’re thrilled to see our technology being integrated in vehicles outside of Rivian, and we’re excited for the future. Rivian will continue to stay focused on creating best in class products and services that benefit our customers, helping to drive EV adoption.” ■ As of the time of writing, Rivian shares are trading 4.1% higher at $11.02 after having dropped 4% on Tuesday’s session. Last June, Volkswagen Group said it was set to invest up to $5 billion in the US-based electric vehicle maker Rivian to leverage its technology and form a joint venture. The partnership “brings Rivian’s software and zonal electronics platform to a broader market through Volkswagen Group’s global reach and scale”, Rivian‘s CEO RJ Scaringe wrote on X. In a statement, the German group said that, in case the joint venture would be established successfully, Volkswagen “intends to make further investments in shares of Rivian Automotive, Inc., or in the joint venture in the total amount of 4 billion USD”. #Rivian #Volkswage #AutoNews #Automotive #MotorIndustry

Rivian Automotive (RIVN) and Volkswagen Group (VKW.L, VLKAF.PK, VOW.BE) plan to form an equally controlled and owned joint venture to create next-generation software-defined vehicle or SDV platforms for use in both companies' future electric vehicles. Volkswagen plans to invest $5 billion into Rivian, the companies said in a statement. There have been many challenges with EV startup including product quality issues, cash flow, ramping up production, etc. Partnerships are key as part of developing the next generation hybrid, alternative fuels like H2, EV batteries, etc. https://lnkd.in/gfQ4jbhr   Blog – Analysis and Commentary – Automotive (ICE EV and Hybrid) – April 2024 - https://lnkd.in/gcve9aYp

The electric vehicle transition is turning into a brutal story of haves and have nots. Rivian's stock is down an extraordinary 28% this morning; Lucid's is down 20%. Both electric-vehicle startups gave disappointing production guidance for 2024. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz shares are up 6% after it said it would use excess cash—yes, most old-fashioned automakers have excess cash—to buy back stock. Legacy auto isn't in any easy spot, but it certainly beats that of EV startups. My latest column for WSJ Heard on the Street: https://lnkd.in/eJK32ZMG

Volkswagen x Rivian: A High-Stakes Partnership Shaping the Future of EVs Volkswagen’s $5.8 billion joint venture with Rivian marks a bold new chapter in the EV industry. This collaboration has the potential to redefine what’s possible in electric vehicle software and technology—but like any major initiative, it comes with its own set of challenges. The Opportunities ✅ Accelerated Innovation: Volkswagen can leverage Rivian’s cutting-edge software expertise to fast-track the development of advanced EV architectures. ✅ Synergy of Strengths: Rivian’s agility meets Volkswagen’s global manufacturing power, creating a unique blend of startup innovation and legacy efficiency. ✅ Cost Efficiency: Sharing development costs reduces the financial burden for both companies while delivering high-impact results. ✅ Competitive Edge: Together, they’re positioned to challenge Tesla and other market leaders with groundbreaking EV solutions. The Risks ⚠️ Integration Hurdles: Merging two companies with vastly different cultures could lead to misaligned priorities. ⚠️ Impact on CARIAD: Volkswagen’s software division may face reduced influence, potentially leading to talent attrition and strategic vulnerabilities. ⚠️ Execution Risk: Delays or technical setbacks could undermine the partnership’s success. What Success Could Look Like A thriving partnership could set a new industry standard, producing innovative, user-friendly EV platforms while strengthening both companies’ positions in the market. The Takeaway This joint venture is a high-stakes bet with transformative potential. Whether it becomes a blueprint for success or a cautionary tale, one thing is clear: it will leave a lasting mark on the EV landscape. What do you think—can collaborations like this drive the industry forward, or are the risks too high? Share your thoughts below! #Volkswagen #Rivian #EV #ElectricVehicles #Innovation #Collaboration #FutureOfMobility #TechLeadership

Volkswagen will invest up to $5bn in Rivian. This investment and joint venture is a reflection of the challenges of both startups and corporations with the speed and scale needed in the energy transition and climate tech scaling. Corporates - Corporations have good intentions to change, and move fast. However, they struggle to do so at the speed and pace needed. Their processes are long, cumbersome and limited. This dea will help Volkswagen accelerate its plans to develop software-defined vehicles (SDV) as they compete with the software-led car Tesla - Rivian will license its software and IP. Startups and Scale-up - building a car venture is extremely challenging in terms of how capital, asset and operations heavy it is. Moving fast has tradeoffs in terms of the capital spent, speed of scale especially with supply chains and markets as they are today. This investment will provide the funding for Rivian to develop its smaller R2 SUVs that will roll out in 2026. RJ Scaringe #electricvehicles #ev #climate #energytransition #investments #corporateinnovation #climate #mobility https://lnkd.in/eBfauP3G

Volkswagen Group x Rivian: A High-Stakes Partnership Shaping the Future of EVs Volkswagen’s $5.8 billion joint venture with Rivian marks a bold new chapter in the EV industry. This collaboration has the potential to redefine what’s possible in electric vehicle software and technology—but like any major initiative, it comes with its own set of challenges. The Opportunities ✅ Accelerated Innovation: Volkswagen can leverage Rivian’s cutting-edge software expertise to fast-track the development of advanced EV architectures. ✅ Synergy of Strengths: Rivian’s agility meets Volkswagen’s global manufacturing power, creating a unique blend of startup innovation and legacy efficiency. ✅ Cost Efficiency: Sharing development costs reduces the financial burden for both companies while delivering high-impact results. ✅ Competitive Edge: Together, they’re positioned to challenge Tesla and other market leaders with groundbreaking EV solutions. The Risks ⚠️ Integration Hurdles: Merging two companies with vastly different cultures could lead to misaligned priorities. ⚠️ Impact on CARIAD: Volkswagen’s software division may face reduced influence, potentially leading to talent attrition and strategic vulnerabilities. ⚠️ Execution Risk: Delays or technical setbacks could undermine the partnership’s success. What Success Could Look Like A thriving partnership could set a new industry standard, producing innovative, user-friendly EV platforms while strengthening both companies’ positions in the market. The Takeaway This joint venture is a high-stakes bet with transformative potential. Whether it becomes a blueprint for success or a cautionary tale, one thing is clear: it will leave a lasting mark on the EV landscape. What do you think—can collaborations like this drive the industry forward, or are the risks too high? Share your thoughts below! #Volkswagen #Rivian #EV #ElectricVehicles #Innovation #Collaboration #FutureOfMobility #TechLeadership

Rivian and Volkswagen Group have announced a groundbreaking joint venture to develop industry-leading vehicle software technology. Here's why this matters for staffing: Talent Demand: The collaboration will accelerate the need for top software engineers and tech experts. New Opportunities: Expands job opportunities in the automotive and tech sectors. Competitive Edge: Companies must strengthen their tech teams to stay ahead. Workforce Evolution: Highlights the shift towards software-driven vehicle innovation. Ready to attract and retain top talent for these clients in this evolving landscape? Connect with me to explore tailored marketing solutions. #Staffing #TechInnovation