Rivian stated on Tuesday that it has no plans to produce vehicles with Volkswagen, following a media report claiming the American electric vehicle manufacturer was in talks with the German carmaker to expand a recent partnership beyond software. Rivian shares fell 1.5 percent in extended trading.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the German newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Tuesday that a longer-term collaboration might include Rivian’s smaller and less costly R2 SUVs being produced at VW’s newly constructed South Carolina facility.
“There are no plans for production of vehicles with Volkswagen Group,” a representative of Rivian told Reuters. Volkswagen stated that the JV was its clear focus and declined to comment on the media claims.
Last week, both companies announced that VW will invest up to $5 billion in Rivian as part of a deal to share electrical design and software. For Volkswagen, the JV provides much-needed EV technologies that traditional manufacturers have failed to build.
Volkswagen has stated that from 2026, it will manufacture electric SUVs and trucks under the Scout brand at the South Carolina facility. “We have not had any conversations about producing Rivian vehicles,” a Scout Motors representative stated.
