Rivian says "no thanks" to GM's opening

April 13, 2019 by Steve Hanley

Rivian, the start-up of electric trucks and SUVs based in Plymouth, Michigan, has attracted a lot of attention. Recently, the private company completed a $ 700 million round of financing led by Amazon. It has also received financial support from Sumitomo Corp. in Japan and Saudi auto distributor Abdul Latif Jameel Ltd., according to a report by Fortune.

According to this report, discussions were underway between Rivian and General Motors, which could have led the general to acquire a stake in the startup. The first Rivian vehicles – introduced last year at the Los Angeles Auto Show – are the darling of the electric vehicle world, as they are both big (some might even say very big), which is a big hit. US customers.

When we say "big", we mean bigger than the Tesla X model and much larger than the next Tesla Y model. Yet, despite their size, it is said that both are capable of traveling more than 400 km with a single load, which is also attractive. strongly to potential US customers.

In the United States, bigger is bigger, better east and General Motors is eager to incorporate electric vehicles the size of Suburban and Silverado. All current EV options are small and medium sized vehicles. A relationship with Rivian would accelerate the commercialization of these large SUVs and trucks. Without this, it may take GM years to have these vehicles showcased in showrooms.

For whatever reason, Rivian's founder, R. J. Scaringe tells Fortune he prefers to keep his options open and talks with GM are over. Apparently, many suitors crowd around the door of Rivian and society can make its choice. Scaringe said in February that its company was interested in marketing its EV technology to several customers. Maybe GM wanted exclusivity and Rivian preferred an "open marriage"?

Pat Morrissey, spokesman for GM, tells Fortune"As we said, we admire Rivian's contribution to a zero emissions future and a fully electric future. There are regular discussions in the automotive industry between various partners, but it is not our policy not to know who, where and when these discussions might take place.

Rivian plans to start production of its first vehicles in 2020 at the Normal plant in Illinois, which she bought at Mitsubishi in 2017 at a bargain price of $ 16 million. Tesla, another electric vehicle start-up, started in much the same way, buying a shutter plant in Fremont, California, from General Motors. Heard spoken?

If the experience of Tesla has proven anything, it is that the path to becoming a manufacturer of automobiles and trucks is congested with landmines. The announcement of intentions and the delivery of real products are two very different things. The world needs Rivian and other electric vehicle startups to succeed, but as my former Irish grandmother liked to say, "If the wishes were horses, we would all be kings."

Keywords: electric van, electric vans, electric SUV, electric carts, GM, Rivian

About the author

Steve Hanley Steve writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his home in Rhode Island and wherever the singularity could lead him. His motto is: "Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but the number of moments that take our breath away!" You can follow him on Google + and on Twitter.