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This week, senior reporter Sean O’Kane made his way to Palo Alto to attend Rivian’s highly anticipated Autonomy & AI Day — an event that several industry insiders had described as potentially one of the company’s most pivotal milestones to date. While opinions may differ on whether that description completely fits, I’ll allow Sean, who experienced the event firsthand, to share his impressions, complemented by a few of my own reflections along the way.
As the presentations unfolded, it was easy at moments to become ensnared in a web of technical buzzwords and AI jargon that often dominate such gatherings. Yet beneath that polished marketing surface, Rivian’s message conveyed an unmistakable theme: the company is consciously maneuvering toward an identity that transcends traditional vehicle manufacturing. Rather than being merely an automaker, Rivian aspires to become a technology-forward enterprise redefining how hardware, software, and mobility intersect.
To be clear, Rivian hasn’t embraced the full-throttle experimentalism that has come to characterize Tesla. There were no humanoid robots strolling around the company’s campus or sensational product stunts. However, Rivian is unequivocally diversifying its portfolio into additional revenue-generating domains, with advanced driver-assistance technology leading the charge.
The automaker’s next-generation hands-free driver-assistance system currently supports roughly 135,000 miles of roadway but is slated to expand dramatically — covering up to 3.5 million miles, including not just highways but surface streets as well. Set for release in early 2026, the feature promises to enable nearly point-to-point hands-free navigation (requiring continuous visual attention from the driver). Customers will have the choice between a one-time $2,500 payment or a subscription model priced at $49.99 per month, signaling Rivian’s entry into recurring software-based revenue streams.
Looking further into the future, Rivian also unveiled its ultimate goal: a fully ‘hands-off, eyes-off’ autonomous driving platform underpinned by bespoke hardware. The company announced the development of a proprietary 5-nanometer processor co-designed with Arm and TSMC, which will serve as the computational powerhouse for its new ‘autonomy computer.’ This hardware suite will form the backbone of an even more advanced automated driving system debuting in the R2 SUV in late 2026. Pricing details remain undisclosed, though it’s reasonable to expect it may exceed the initial $2,500 figure.
Beyond retail consumers, Rivian appears poised to consider an additional and highly strategic route: licensing its technology to other companies. The logic here is compelling — by monetizing its autonomous software and hardware stack externally, Rivian could offset development costs while embedding itself deeper into the mobility ecosystem. The grounds for such speculation are tangible; Rivian already has a joint venture with Volkswagen Group focused on sharing its electrical architecture and foundational software. Moreover, the company’s recent decision to spin out two startups — Also, specializing in mobility innovations, and Mind Robotics, pursuing industrial AI and robotics — hints at a broader ambition to create commercial pathways for its tech.
Barclays analyst Dan Levy recently noted that follow-up discussions had reinforced optimism about Rivian’s potential to license either its full autonomous driving platform or select components, such as its proprietary processor architecture. When asked directly whether the company might sell that processor to the newly launched Mind Robotics, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe responded with notable wit: “It doesn’t take a lot of imagination.” The remark, brief as it was, spoke volumes about Rivian’s open-ended approach to commercialization.
At a strategic level, the diversification of Rivian’s business model — extending revenue generation beyond mere vehicle sales into software, hardware licensing, and related technologies — constitutes a pragmatic maneuver. For a company competing in a capital-intensive industry, adding scalable income streams that complement its automotive operations simply makes sound financial sense. After all, expanding profitable verticals is something no executive or shareholder would oppose.
For readers interested in exploring this story in greater depth, TechCrunch has published extensive coverage of the event: analyses explaining how Rivian is developing its own AI assistant (scheduled for integration into its EV lineup by early 2026), as well as an investigative report highlighting the company’s bold expansion into autonomy through custom-designed silicon, lidar systems, and hints at future robotaxi ambitions.
Now, as for a bit of insider buzz: according to whispers overheard by Sean during the Autonomy & AI Day, Rivian faced concerns about its planned public demonstration of the AI assistant — specifically, whether the system would successfully perform live. Early tests that morning reportedly proved somewhat unstable. Nonetheless, the actual demonstration proceeded smoothly after one tense opening moment, a testament to Rivian’s technical preparation and confidence. Live demos carry significant reputational risk, which is precisely why many firms avoid them, so Rivian deserves credit for embracing the challenge.
For those who have insights, news tips, or stories to share, the TechCrunch Mobility team invites you to reach out directly to Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or via Signal (username kkorosec.07). You can also contact Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com.
Moving on to this week’s industry deals and developments, 2025 began with an unexpected convergence between aviation and data infrastructure. Aircraft innovator Boom Supersonic — known for its ambition to reintroduce commercial supersonic travel — made headlines early in the year with its XB-1 demonstrator breaching the sound barrier. Now, the company is closing the year by announcing a plan to adapt a version of its turbine engine for stationary use as a power-generation unit. Its inaugural buyer, Crusoe, a data-center startup, has agreed to purchase 29 of Boom’s 42-megawatt turbines for a staggering $1.25 billion, generating 1.21 gigawatts to power its energy-hungry facilities. To accelerate this new business line, Boom has also raised $300 million led by Darsana Capital Partners with participation from several prominent investors including Altimeter Capital, Ark Invest, Bessemer Venture Partners, Robinhood Ventures, and Y Combinator. Significantly, proceeds from this initiative — aptly named the Superpower turbine business — will help finance Boom’s ongoing mission to bring commercial supersonic aircraft to market.
Other partnerships and transactions of note include Aurora Innovation’s newly formalized commercial agreement with Detmar Logistics to deploy autonomous trucks transporting frac sand across the Permian Basin. Meanwhile, the automotive battery sector saw reshuffling: SK On and Ford, which four years ago launched a joint $11.4 billion venture to construct massive battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky, have now decided to dissolve their partnership. Under the revised plan, Ford will assume operation of the two Kentucky facilities, while SK On will manage the Tennessee site within the BlueOval SK campus.
In a separate development, Rhode Island-based Vatn Systems — a startup focused on autonomous underwater vehicles — secured $60 million in Series A financing led by BVVC, signaling growing investor interest in maritime robotics.
On the cybersecurity front, 700Credit, which provides credit and identity verification for dealerships across the United States, reported a data breach impacting at least 5.6 million individuals. Stolen information included names, addresses, birth dates, and Social Security numbers, underscoring ongoing vulnerabilities in data management within the auto retail ecosystem.
Elsewhere, former Canoo CEO’s efforts to persuade NASA and the U.S. Postal Service to continue using the company’s electric vans were unsuccessful, prompting both organizations to discontinue their contracts. In Europe, Ford and Renault have agreed to co-develop two affordable Ford-branded EVs for the 2028 market, combining Ford’s design leadership with Renault’s manufacturing expertise at its northern France facility.
Legal turbulence emerged at Lucid, where former chief engineer Eric Bach filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation — claims that have cast a shadow over the luxury EV startup. Subaru, for its part, unveiled the new Uncharted EV, boasting a 300-mile range and a price just over $36,000. Yet the revelation that the vehicle’s Premium trim will feature only front-wheel drive may stir debate among Subaru aficionados known for their loyalty to all-wheel-drive systems.
In a more human moment within the high-tech world of autonomous mobility, a woman in San Francisco delivered her baby in a Waymo robotaxi en route to UCSF Medical Center — notably, not the first instance of childbirth inside one of Waymo’s self-driving vehicles. Concurrently, a leaked investor letter from Tiger Global Management revealed that Waymo is facilitating around 450,000 robotaxi rides each week, nearly double what it disclosed earlier in the year.
And in related mobility news, Zevo is preparing to introduce autonomous vehicles into its car-sharing network, beginning with newcomer Tensor — another sign of the accelerating convergence between autonomous technology and shared mobility services. Senior reporter Sean O’Kane provides a deeper dive into the implications of this move.
Finally, let’s revisit our most recent TechCrunch Mobility poll. We asked readers whether companies advancing autonomous vehicle technologies should maintain their current pace, accelerate, or slow down in light of intensifying scrutiny on safety and accountability. The results were revealing: approximately 48% favored staying the course, 23% advocated speeding up development, and 29.4% urged companies to ease off the accelerator. The diversity of responses reflects the ongoing tension between ambition and caution in this transformative field — a theme TechCrunch will continue to examine as the mobility revolution unfolds.
Sourse: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/14/rivians-survival-plan-involves-more-than-cars/
