The future of Volkswagen Group electric cars might look quite familiar if recent reporting from Yahoo Finance is to be believed. A report from the outlet quoting Rivian Chief Software Officier Wassym Bensaid suggested that Volkswagen would look to its upstart EV partner for technology solutions, including the forthcoming R2 midsize SUV’s “zonal architecture” electrical system and scalable electronics platform. The first recipient of Rivian’s technology will be the production version of the ID. EVERY1 concept, but it will trickle out through most of Volkswagen Group’s offerings over time.
Lots Of “Platform” And “Architecture” Talk, Not Much Clarity
Speaking to Yahoo, Bensaid said the R2 will underpin future Volkswagen electric vehicles. However, whether the executive was referring to the vehicle architecture or the software wasn’t immediately made clear – it seems a bit unlikely that the all-wheel-drive Rivian R2 SUV will donate its entire platform (which might also include a gasoline-powered contingency) to the subcompact, $21,000 ID. EVERY1. Bensaid made abundant mention of the R2’s scalable, modular technology stack, meaning the interconnected set of electronic components, software, and mechanical bits that make up the electric vehicle. We think that’s likely what will end up in future Volkswagens.
For example, the Rivian R2 SUV’s “zonal architecture,” wherein systems are bundled together based on their location in the vehicle, reduces its electronic complexity significantly compared to the larger R1S. In fact, the new hardware layout allows a staggering 2.3-mile reduction just in wiring compared to Rivian’s first-generation products, meaning lighter weight, quicker responses, and improved electrical efficiency. Rivian has already said its zonal architecture design can be scaled up and down for vehicles like the next-generation R1S and the compact R3, and it seems likely that Volkswagen will make use of the technology for its future EVs.
“R2 is the platform that will actually underpin all future EV products at VW. So it’s really that modular, scalable technology stack that we will take into VW brands, and we will do it in a way where we will still allow each of the brands to express their own identity.”
–Wassym Bensaid, Rivian Chief Software Officer and Co-CEO of Volkswagen-Rivian
A Fruitful Partnership For Both Thus Far
The tie-in between Volkswagen Group and Rivian has been mutually beneficial, according to Bensaid. Volkswagen has been the recipient of some real technology prowess, and in fact each of the group’s brands will run on Rivian electronics in the coming years. That means that everything from Skodas and SEATs to Bentleys and Porsches will eventually sport some Rivian DNA, albeit with brand-specific user interfaces and skins. Volkswagen’s current software development arm, called CARIAD, has run into some problems in the last several years involving security and user privacy. Whether the Rivian technology will supplant or augment CARIAD’s solutions remains to be seen.
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A VW ID.1 GTI Is Totally Possible
It could be a while before it comes to reality, which is still an if.
So what’s in it for the California-based, adventure-focused EV startup? Money, and lots of it. Although it cleared some of its black-ink goalposts in 2024, Rivian hasn’t turned a profit since its inception. The forthcoming R2 is slated to be the company’s first volume seller that will help it claw out of the red, and Volkswagen’s $5.8 billion investment will help it get the R2 to market quickly – hopefully at the formerly promised $45,000 base price. Bensaid said that Rivian’s top priority is getting the R2 to production, since most of its consumer requests today are related to the soon-to-be-entry-level crossover. Still, the Trump administration’s open antagonism toward electric vehicles may present a challenge for Rivian, so we doubt the company is counting its pennies just yet.
Source: Yahoo Finance via InsideEVs
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