Rivian Stock Soars After Hours Following Volkswagen’s $5 Billion Investment and Joint Venture Announcement
Rivian’s stock surged dramatically in after-hours trading on Tuesday, climbing over 50% to $18.49 per share, following Volkswagen Group’s announcement of a substantial investment and the creation of a joint venture between the two companies. This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone for Rivian, an electric vehicle (EV) startup, as it navigates a competitive and rapidly evolving market landscape.
Volkswagen, one of the world’s leading automakers, has committed to investing up to $5 billion in Rivian. The investment begins with an initial $1 billion convertible note, set to be converted into Rivian shares after December 1, 2024. This initial funding will be followed by two further investments of $1 billion each in 2025 and 2026, contingent upon the achievement of specific milestones. Additionally, a $2 billion payment will be made in 2026, half of which will be directed towards the joint venture and the other half provided as a loan.
This influx of capital is expected to support Rivian’s ambitious plans to ramp up production and develop new models, including the R2 electric SUV and the R3 compact crossover. The funds will also help resume the construction of Rivian’s Georgia plant, which was halted earlier this year as part of a cost-saving strategy.
The partnership between Rivian and Volkswagen extends beyond financial investment to the creation of a joint venture aimed at developing a new automotive software platform. This venture will leverage Rivian’s zonal hardware design and integrated technology platform to enhance infotainment, wireless connectivity, and autonomous driving capabilities. Both companies will hold equal stakes in the venture, ensuring a balanced leadership structure.
Volkswagen’s CEO, Oliver Blume, emphasized the mutual benefits of this collaboration, highlighting how Rivian’s innovative technology and Volkswagen’s scale can drive significant cost savings and accelerate technological advancements. “This partnership fits seamlessly with our existing software strategy, our products, and partnerships. We are strengthening our technology profile and our competitiveness,” Blume stated.
For Rivian, this partnership represents a crucial step towards achieving long-term sustainability and growth. The company, founded in 2009 and yet to post a quarterly profit, reported a significant loss of $1.5 billion in the first quarter of 2024. However, with Volkswagen’s support, Rivian is poised to better compete with industry giants like Tesla and Chinese automaker BYD.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to secure the company’s capital needs and accelerate the deployment of its technology across more products. “The scale that Volkswagen brings, the portfolio of outstanding brands that they bring, the opportunity to apply that scale to achieve meaningful cost savings across our build of materials and across our business, coupled with the ability to drive the acceleration of this technology to more products on the Volkswagen side — it really is highly complementary,” Scaringe noted.
The market reacted positively to the news, with Rivian shares soaring more than 50% in after-hours trading. This spike reflects investor confidence in the strategic alliance’s potential to bolster Rivian’s market position and financial stability.