Pratik Budhdev

Volkswagen Group and Rivian Announce Plans for Joint Venture to Create Industry-Leading Vehicle Software Technology. Volkswagen Group and Rivian intend to enter a joint venture to create next generation software-defined vehicle (SDV) architectures to be used in both companies’ future electric vehicles. Volkswagen Group to invest an initial $1 billion in Rivian, with up to $4 billion in planned additional investment for a total expected deal size of $5 billion Joint venture is expected to build on Rivian’s industry-leading software and electrical architecture to create best-in-class software-defined vehicle technology platform. The partnership is anticipated to accelerate the development of software for Rivian and Volkswagen Group. It is expected to allow both companies to combine their complementary strengths and lower cost per vehicle by increasing scale and speeding up innovation globally. Rivian’s proven in-market zonal hardware design and integrated technology platform are expected to serve as the foundation for future SDV development in the JV that will be applied to both companies’ vehicles. Rivian plans to contribute its electrical architecture expertise and is expected to license existing intellectual property rights to the joint venture. Both companies aim to launch vehicles benefitting from the technology created within the joint venture in the second half of the decade. In the short term, the joint venture is expected to enable Volkswagen Group to utilize Rivian’s existing electrical architecture and software platform. The partnership’s ambition is to accelerate Volkswagen Group’s SDV plans and transition to a pure zonal architecture. Each company will continue to separately operate their respective vehicle businesses. Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen Group said: “Our customers benefit from the targeted partnership with Rivian to create a leading technology architecture. Through our cooperation, we will bring the best solutions to our vehicles faster and at lower cost. We are also acting in the best interest of our strong brands, which will inspire with their iconic products. The partnership fits seamlessly with our existing software strategy, our products, and partnerships. We are strengthening our technology profile and our competitiveness." RJ Scaringe, Founder and CEO of Rivian said: “We’re very excited to be partnering with Volkswagen Group. Since the earliest days of Rivian, we have been focused on developing highly differentiated technology, and it’s exciting that one of the world’s largest and most respected automotive companies has recognized this. Not only is this partnership expected to bring our software and associated zonal architecture to an even broader market through Volkswagen Group’s global reach, but this partnership also is expected to help secure our capital needs for substantial growth..” #partnership #softwareinvestment #jointventure #softwarestrategy #technology #industryleadingvehiclesoftware

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🚘🔮 Future of the Automotive Industry: Evolving Trends and Tesla's Strategic Pivot As we witness Tesla's strategic shift under Elon Musk's leadership, the broader automotive industry stands at a crossroads. Industry expert J. Bradford DeLong recently highlighted Musk's transition from a focus on tangible deliverables to ambitious promises, particularly in robotics and AI. This shift raises critical questions about Tesla's valuation and its future in the automotive landscape. Delving into the possibilities, here are three future scenarios for the automotive industry, informed by leading research from Deloitte: 1. Electrification and Autonomous Dominance - EVs and autonomous vehicles could become prevalent, driven by advancements in technology and stringent emissions regulations. This could reshape urban mobility and reduce personal car ownership, positioning companies like Tesla at the forefront if they can maintain their innovative edge. 2. Mixed Mobility Ecosystem - A diverse array of technologies might coexist, from hybrids and EVs to hydrogen fuel cells, shaped by consumer preferences and regional policies. This scenario suggests a fragmented market where collaborations between traditional automakers and tech firms become crucial. 3. Technological and Regulatory Roadblocks - Progress towards electrification and autonomy might be impeded by technological challenges and uneven regulations. This could slow the adoption of disruptive technologies, favoring incremental improvements in existing vehicle technologies. As Tesla navigates these turbulent waters, the industry watches closely. Will Tesla's focus on becoming more of a tech company align with future industry trends, or is it a risky gamble? What do these scenarios mean for auto manufacturers and the EV ecosystem as we navigate market shifts and innovation? #AutomotiveIndustry #ElectricVehicles #AutonomousDriving #Tesla #ElonMusk #FutureTrends #Innovation #Deloitte

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Wow. VW Group will invest up to $5 billion in Rivian to form a new, equally controlled joint venture sharing #EV architecture + software. JV's HOT TAKE: (a) Rivian gets the cash it needs before the R2 goes into production 2 yrs hence; (b) VW desperately needs software help on SDVs; (c) VW gets a US-based JV to build new products; so (d) Is THIS what underpins the new (and so far largely unknown) Scout Motors Inc. brand? More to come on this, for sure. #electriccars #electricvehicles #autoindustry #automotive #VWgroup #Rivian https://lnkd.in/eJsauZfs

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Watch Wood Mackenzie's Amaiya Khardenavis, Analyst, EV Charging Infrastructure discuss the implications of Tesla's recent announcement to slow down the deployment of their Supercharger network after significantly downsizing their deployment team with CNBC. Amaiya expects that despite Tesla's dominance in the charging market today, other charging networks will have the opportunity to step up to provide EV drivers a reliable and seamless charging experience by developing innovative models to monetize the dwell time during EV charging. Watch the feature here: https://okt.to/OalmqK

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https://lnkd.in/gZeefZhX Private equity funds gathered $176.7 billion in the first quarter of 2024, a drop of roughly 10 percent from the $195.5 billion recorded in the same period last year, according to preliminary findings from PEI data. Interest rate uncertainty continues to weigh on buyout and exit activity, while record dry powder for the asset class remains stacked for 2024, the data found.

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Insights into the Commercialization of Autonomous Driving Technologies In this insightful conversation, David Welch, Detroit Bureau Chief, Bloomberg joined The Road to Autonomy Founder Grayson Brulte on The Autonomy Economy podcast for a conversation about the latest developments and prospects in the autonomous vehicle and electric vehicle markets. They collectively analyze Tesla's upcoming robotaxi unveiling, offering perspectives on how the market might react and the challenges around Tesla achieving full self-driving. As well as the competitive landscape for autonomy that includes Waymo, Cruise and Aurora along with the current investor sentiment on all-things autonomy. 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/dtqF3g42 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dy5uSjah 🎥 Watch on X: https://lnkd.in/dXyGMfRP 🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/d8sU6Y_C #AutonomyEconomy #RoadToAutonomy #Podcast #Autonomy #AutonomousTrucks #AutonomousVehicles #AutonomyMarket #InvestorSentiment #RoboTaxi #SelfDriving

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One of the major tech goals of many automakers is to build a powerful and rugged #EV motor that does not use rare earth elements. Now, ZF Group claims to have done it, and I learned more about this achievement in a lengthy discussion with Otmar Scharrer. Such a motor could be a game changer because it would let these companies avoid the problems and risks of rare earths, including pollution caused by their mining and dependence on China, the source of around 95 percent of the world's rare earths. https://lnkd.in/eupP2cr7

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When Ascend Elements CTO and co-founder Eric Gratz first started working in the #EV #battery materials industry back in 2012, cost was perceived as the biggest hurdle to widespread adoption of #electric vehicles. “At that time U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimated that batteries would need to be at the $100 per kwh price point for EVs to reach price parity with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. This is what drove a lot of the early grant funding, including our initial research into direct precursor synthesis. Today, EV #batteries in China have fallen well below the $100kWh and batteries in North America are approaching that price point, which is making electric vehicles more affordable than ever.” Most early adopters started driving EVs for the #environment. They were willing to pay extra to protect the environment. But now, lower #lithium-ion battery prices are making many long-range EVs less expensive than the average ICE vehicles. This opens the door to a whole new, larger segment of the market. As Tom Randall reports for Bloomberg News, price parity between EVs and ICE vehicles is still a few years away, but as new EV drivers discover the fun and convenience of electric driving – not to mention the significantly lower fuel and maintenance costs – we will continue to see steady growth in EV adoption. https://lnkd.in/g6-TjsjW

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PARTNERSHIP: Volkswagen and Rivian announce joint venture to develop next-gen SDV platforms EV manufacturer #Rivian Automotive and #VolkswagenGroup (VW) have announced their intention to form an equally controlled and owned joint venture to create next-generation #electrical architecture and software #technology for software-define vehicles (SDVs). The partnership is anticipated to accelerate the development of #software for both companies. Rivian’s zonal hardware design and integrated technology platform will serve as the foundation for #SDV development in the JV for the companies’ vehicles. In the short term, the collaboration is expected to enable VW to use Rivian’s existing #electricalarchitecture and software platform. The partnership’s longer-term ambition is to accelerate VW’s SDV plans and transition to a pure zonal architecture. Oliver Blume, CEO of VW, said, “Our customers benefit from the targeted #partnership with Rivian to create a leading technology architecture. Through our cooperation, we will bring the best solutions to our vehicles faster and at lower cost.” RJ Scaringe, founder and CEO of Rivian, said, “We’re very excited to be partnering with Volkswagen Group. Not only is this partnership expected to bring our software and associated #zonalarchitecture to an even broader market through Volkswagen Group’s global reach, but this partnership also is expected to help secure our capital needs for substantial growth." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/esN6Xv-H #AutonomousVehicles #AV #SelfDriving #ADAS #AutonomousDriving #Automotive #AutomotiveIndustry #Transportation #Technology #FutureMobility #Sustainability #AVTExpoStuttgart #AVTExpoCA

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In #semiconductor manufacturing, Humatics microlocation is transforming the automation of packaging processes. As progress in chips increasingly turns to packaging as a key vector of improvement and value, this is a big deal. This video illustrates the work beautifully, as Humatics enables robots to do precision machine tending....stay tuned for further developments :)

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Excited to share Marathon Venture Capital's investment in Eva Magnisali's DataForm Lab! Construction is large enough to be measured in GDP terms, yet remains a laggard in the adoption of automation. Our buildings are still constructed manually! Offsite manufacturing, i.e. assembling buildings in factories, provides the perfect canvas for putting automation to work – still, however, robots are nowhere to be seen... Eva studied architecture and robotics, and worked with design firms, developers and industry vendors, realising first hand what's keeping the industry stuck in the past. Then she got to work... Dataform Lab's software platform translates designs to production drawings and machine code, along with optimising processes and scheduling, essentially offering a modern operating system for construction factories. The company already works with some of the most prominent offsite manufacturers worldwide. Today it announces the completion of a GBP 1.1m Seed round led by Marathon. Eva and her team are on a mission to drive automation in offsite manufacturing. If you are excited about working at the intersection of technology and construction, get in touch! Building construction has been slow and expensive for far too long. Our next homes and schools may come from fully-automated factories, delivered at a fraction of today's time and cost. Keep an eye on Dataform Lab! https://lnkd.in/dVVfnudS

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Do your proper due diligence and you’ll be surprised that financials, performance and sustainability are all aligned on the F-150 Lightning The only genuine option for a BEV 4 x 4 in Oz.

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The idea that adopting NACS (now more properly referred to as SAE J3400) was going to solve all the problems of public EV charging reliability was always far-fetched, and I was surprised at the time that so many people bought into it. Now that Tesla appears to be releasing its creation into the wild, reliability and interoperability issues may become more important than ever. Here's an excerpt from my article about interoperability specialist EcoG, based on an interview with CEO Joerg Heuer. You'll find the full article in the new issue of CHARGED Electric Vehicles Magazine.

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2024's study by J.D. Power revealed that only 26% of US car buyers were “very likely to consider purchasing” an #EV in the next year, and more than 20% were “very unlikely to consider an EV purchase” at all. We know the lack of charging stations, high cost of insurance and repairs are associated pain points. [Side note: As someone who has experienced the very real EV service issue —TLDR: rental Tesla unable to charge during a 7 hour drive to VT, Hertz MIA 🤷‍♀️ - 7 hours slowly turned into 16 hours..so Kinetic has got me intrigued!] They deploy robots that diagnose and recalibrate electric and autonomous vehicles—a game-changer in the world of car repairs.. A robotic arm scans from bumper to fender with machine vision sensors, diagnose - and then Kinetic's software will initiate and track the fixes. They plan to expand to robotaxi fleets. The scoop: 🏁Many repair centers can't support the "finicky, “digital” aspects of customers’ cars - often expensive & time-consuming repairs. 🏁Improved efficiency - from pilot customers "This reduced our cycle time by days.’ Or ‘We got cars back to customers faster and cheaper" 🏁Cost reduction: By tackling the digital complexities of modern vehicles, Kinetic aims to lower maintenance expenses, especially for EV owners. 🏁Insurance impact: Addressing tech-related repair costs could potentially alleviate the burden on insurance, making EV ownership more appealing. Can't wait to see how this shapes the future of #mobility. #AutonomousVehicles

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News reports of Tesla's recent Supercharger team reductions and planned slowdown in network expansion have created quite the buzz over the past week, and justifiably so. The Supercharger network is currently the largest, most satisfactory, and reliable fast charging network in the United States. J.D. Power's Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging Study, which evaluates session level public charging on an ongoing basis, highlights Tesla's high performance on a consistent basis. Yet again, with our release last week of the 2024 Q1 results, Supercharger set the benchmark in satisfaction and reliability. However, beyond the charging experience, the recent news has highlighted a blind spot that could change Tesla buyer behaviors and impact EV adoption. Last year when auto manufacturers were announcing adoption of the Tesla developed North American Charging Standard (NACS) I wrote about the anticipated benefit that this would provide to non-Tesla consumers and highlighted how heavily the Supercharger network influenced buyers' decisions to purchase a Tesla. At that time, our Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study indicated that the fifth most frequently cited purchase reason among new Tesla owners was the availability of public chargers that were compatible with the brand. For premium buyers, excluding Tesla, it was only the 13th cited purchase reason. It was a clear indication that the Supercharger network was a substantial purchase influencer for Tesla buyers and an advantage for Tesla in general. Fast forward to the recently released 2024 iteration of that same study and the influence of the Supercharger network on Tesla purchases has only grown in importance. Recent Tesla buyers indicate that the availability of compatible public chargers was the second most popular reason for buying a Tesla, just behind Driving Performance. There are certainly lots of challenges with public charging, not the least of which is charger availability. For Tesla, a brand that is generating interest and sales for its vehicles off the strength of its charging network, it makes the shift in focus for Supercharger all the more head scratching. Stay tuned for more insights from these studies. For more information about the J.D. Power studies cited in this post, please visit: https://lnkd.in/erAvFGnx #jdpower #EVX #electricvehicles #EVs #publiccharging #Tesla #Supercharger

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Mercedes-Benz AG-Benz is bringing 25 new and updated models to showrooms this year, including entry and midsegment vehicles such as the redesigned E-Class and new plug-in hybrid GLC crossover. The automaker is backing off its electric vehicle push as U.S. consumers cool to its zero-emission offerings. At a meeting in April, Mercedes told retailers it would boost combustion engine and hybrid vehicle supply in 2024. The automaker plans to expand its plug-in hybrid offerings in the second half with the GLC. The automaker is tweaking product development plans and taking a page from rival BMW Group https://lnkd.in/da_Gwqcj Future models will share platforms and support gasoline-only, hybrid and electric powertrains. Mercedes will ditch the jelly bean design and EQ branding on future EVs. The luxury brand plans to maintain its premium pricing strategy but will add content to improve marketability in a high-interest and competitive environment. Entry-level versions of the GLE crossover and E-Class sedan will be rear-wheel drive to lower the starting price by about $2,500. #mercedesbenz #newmodels #eclass #glc #hybridvehicles #evstrategy #productdevelopment #bmw #platformsharing #powertrains #pricing #gle #rwd

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This week Alan Amici discusses tariffs on Chinese EVs and the EV demand decrease. "The tariff is relatively benign when compared to the 100% duty imposed by the U.S. Still, it sends a message that “unfair subsidization” of Chinese imports will not be tolerated. Canada is considering similar measures to protect its robust automaking industry. The industry needs a level playing field and an appropriate capacity to meet demand. Excess capacity, dumping, and subsidized products create labor, supply, profitability, and sustainability issues in the long term, which is not a good outlook for the auto industry. " Read the full Hot Topics article: https://lnkd.in/gb6SmdWF

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