Rivian Automotive (RIVN) shares soared Wednesday, a day after the electric vehicle manufacturer expanded its partnership with Volkswagen in a move aimed at helping both firms find ways to grab more of the market for EVs.
Shares of Rivian jumped over 13% in premarket trading Wednesday after the electric vehicle maker announced a $5.8 billion investment from German automaker Volkswagen as part of their joint venture.
Volkswagen Group (XETRA:VOW) and US EV maker Rivian Automotive Inc (NASDAQ:RIVN) have forged closer ties with the German car giant agreeing to inject an extra $800 million into the ailing Tesla rival. Instead of the US$5 billion initially agreed in June, VW will now invest US$5.8 billion split between the joint venture and Rivian itself.
Rivian leapt as Volkswagen will now up to $5.8 billion in their joint venture. VW aims to produce the first resulting vehicles in 2027.
Rivian Automotive Inc. and Volkswagen Group have launched their upsized joint venture, vowing to join forces to create “cutting edge” EV technology.
The EV company and VW agreed to a partnership in June that could provide Rivian with around $5 billion in capital in the coming years.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group launched on Tuesday the joint venture they had announced in June, valued at $5.8 billion, to share software and electric vehicle architecture.
The companies said the deal is now up to $5.8 billion – up from $5 billion – with the first VW models to use Rivian's software and electrical architecture arriving as early as 2027.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group have finalized a multi-billion-dollar joint venture to develop software, paving the way to let the German auto giant leverage the EV startup's more technical chops in the coming years. Volkswagen will invest up to $5.8 billion by 2027, about 16% more than when the deal was first announced in June.
The new agreement builds on an earlier announcement in which the German automaker said it would invest up to $5 billion in Rivian, a maker of electric vehicles. The new venture brings them closer.
Volkswagen's luxury division Audi has failed to find a buyer for its struggling plant in Brussels, a spokesperson said on Tuesday, making the closure of the plant likely.
Volkswagen faces challenges from past scandals, slow BEV adoption, and economic pressures, but aims to revitalize with the Scout brand and cost-cutting measures. VW's direct-to-consumer sales strategy for Scout faces legal opposition from U.S. franchise dealers, complicating its market entry. Despite financial struggles, VW's strong brand portfolio and strategic investments, like in Rivian, suggest potential for long-term growth and profitability.