One year after its inception, the joint venture “Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies” (RV Tech) is successfully collaborating with the Volkswagen Group and Rivian.
The development of a state-of-the-art zonal architecture for future software-defined vehicles (SDVs) is progressing. Currently, RV Tech is preparing reference vehicles from the Volkswagen, Scout, and Audi brands with the SDV architecture for winter testing in Q1 2026. At the same time, the organisation is being consistently developed: RV Tech now boasts a powerful international development team of more than 1,500 employees. With its new location in Berlin, the joint venture is also strengthening cross-site collaboration with the Volkswagen Group brands in Europe.
Founded in November 2024, the joint venture is developing a state-of-the-art zonal electronic architecture and functional software – called Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) architecture – for the Volkswagen Group and Rivian, targeting the Western Hemisphere. In the SDV-architecture, powerful modular central computers control all vehicle functions. Customers can benefit from highly automated driving features and advanced infotainment solutions that can be continuously updated via over-the-air updates – no service centre visits are required. This keeps vehicles constantly up to date and continuously improves the driving experience.
The Volkswagen Group will deploy this SDV architecture in electric vehicles based on the upcoming SSP platform. The company aims to offer technologically leading products across various segments, price ranges, and international markets. The SSP platform is expected to support a Group-wide vehicle volume of up to 30 million units.
Rivian will use the technologies created from the joint venture for its future products, R2, R3 and R3X and to keep its current vehicle fleet updated with the latest software.
Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, says: “Our joint venture with Rivian demonstrates how we at Volkswagen Group envision and deliver progress: with speed, precision, and a strong customer focus. The joint venture is rapidly developing the architecture for our future software- defined vehicles. Every step toward achieving our ambitious goals is being executed with determination and clear focus. In close collaboration with our brands, a technological foundation has been created in just twelve months that will enable a new digital driving experience for our customers at accessible prices. Together, this strategic partnership will set new standards for the future of mobility.”
RJ Scaringe, Founder and CEO of Rivian, says: “We remain incredibly excited by the work coming out of our joint venture with Volkswagen Group. RV Tech has gone from strength to strength over the last 12 months and is raising the bar in automotive technology. We’re incredibly excited about the launch of R2 in the first half of next year, which will showcase the advancements the joint venture has made.”
Winter testing with reference vehicles to begin in Q1 2026
At the beginning of 2026, RV Tech plans to send vehicles from the Volkswagen, Scout, and Audi brands into their first winter testing phase to evaluate the developed SDV features under cold conditions. The hardware and electronic architecture specifications for these reference vehicles have been defined since spring 2025. The goal is to validate the performance of the zonal SDV architecture under demanding climatic conditions.
Among the vehicles is the Volkswagen ID.EVERY1. Since summer 2025, work with engineering prototypes has been in full swing at RV Tech’s sites in Palo Alto and Irvine. The series model is scheduled to launch in 2027 as the first Group vehicle featuring a version of the SDV architecture, offering leading digital technologies in the fully electric entry-level segment.
In addition, the joint venture is working with Volkswagen Group brands on the next development stages and technical specifications for future models based on the SSP platform, which are expected to hit the market by the end of the decade. This helps to ensure that the brands can optimally align their upcoming models with the SDV architecture and integrate digital vehicle capabilities into series production in a reliable and efficient manner.
RV Tech is being systematically built up
The joint venture now boasts a powerful international development team of more than 1,500 employees. The teams are based in the USA, Canada, Sweden, Serbia, and also at a new location in Berlin. The German branch strengthens collaboration with the Group’s brands within the same time zone.
