Rivian R2 technologies will become the foundation for future Volkswagen electric vehicles
The partnership between Rivian and Volkswagen is of strategic importance for both companies. For Rivian, it means additional investments, and for VW — access to advanced software solutions and electric vehicle architecture. As reported by Wassym Bensaid, Rivian’s Chief Software Officer, the R2 technology platform developed for the new Rivian model will be used in all future Volkswagen electric cars.
“R2 is the platform that will form the basis of all future VW electric vehicles. We will preserve the individuality of the brands, but the technical foundation and software architecture will be unified,” Bensaid noted.
How will this affect the market?
It is important to note that we are talking specifically about the software and technological component, not the physical platform. Volkswagen continues to develop its own SSP architecture, which is intended to replace MEB. Furthermore, the company, in collaboration with the Chinese Xpeng, is creating a separate CEA platform for the Chinese market, which will reduce production costs.
Production of the Rivian R2 will begin in the second half of 2026, followed later by the more compact R3 model. This could significantly accelerate the development of Volkswagen’s electric vehicle division, as it will allow for the implementation of unified technologies across different price categories. At the same time, each brand within the group will retain its identity through individual interface design and chassis tuning.