Volkswagen and Rivian combine to build more affordable electric vehicles, but that does not mean that they plan to skimp on high -tech functionalities.
Tesla’s rival is associated with Volkswagen to provide technology for a new $ 22,500 electric car, and Wassym Benaidaid, Director of Rivian software, said the VEV would not compromise technology despite its low prices.
VW and Rivian announced last year an agreement for the German car giant to invest more than $ 5 billion in the startup and to form a joint company to develop new generation software and EV technology, with Benaid and VW Exec Carsten Helbing as CO-PDG.
In March, VW unveiled the ID Every1, a compact electric tailgate game to be the first VW vehicle to include software developed in the joint venture.
The four -seater 13 feet long should be sold in Europe by 2027 for around 20,000 euros, or about $ 22,500. VW did not say if it intended to bring it to the United States.
“This is something that is extremely close to my heart because it is a way to bring this technology into many other cars,” Benaid told Business Insider.
“Inexpensive cars should not have low technology, and it is the beauty of the configuration that we allow by joint venture,” said the Rivian Executive, who spoke with BI on the sidelines of the Financial Times Financial Conference.
Wassym Bensaid is Director of Rivian software. Rivian
Benaid said that the tailgate at a lower cost would use Rivian’s software architecture to reduce costs.
Rather than individual computers controlling components such as seats, lights and doors, all the features of identity identification are set to be managed by a central computer built on Rivian technology, which, according to Benaid, would save VW money because it uses fewer parts and simplifies design.
The ID EVERY1 will not be the first vehicle to use the technology developed by the Rivian-VW joint venture-that is to say R2 of Rivian, which should be launched next year-but it is a huge step for both companies.
An affordable lack of electric vehicles remains one of the main reasons why customers hesitate to become electric, and VW bet that its cheapest battery offer will help fill this gap.
He is not the only one to make this bet. STARTUP Slate Auto caused a SUGE last month when he unveiled a $ 25,000 van, which is expected to be sold in the United States in 2026.
The slate truck has shaken up the trend of increasingly computerized vehicles filled with smart technologies.
The basic model lacks electric windows, radio and any type of integrated infotainment system, with the CEO of Slate saying that the company had focused on simplicity to maintain the price as low as possible.
Until now, consumers have not seem disturbed by the lack of bells and whistles, the startup supported by Jeff Bezos receiving 100,000 reimbursable reservations at $ 50 in just two weeks.
Asked about Slate’s approach, Benaidaid said Rivian welcomes more competition on the electric vehicle market, but had made a “different choice” in the way he is approaching electric cars more affordable.
“Cheap cars should not be cars with limited features,” he said, adding that Rivian thought it was possible to provide a “rich user experience” at a low price by making vehicle technology more efficient.
“This is our approach,” said Benaid. “We would like to allow the choice of customers, but without such a serious compromise in terms of global experience.”
