‘Fork in the road’: CEO of Amazon-backed Rivian on why carmakers need to invest in EVs
Summary
RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian, said carmakers that focus on gas and hybrid engines risk falling behind technology by the end of the decade. He explained that companies investing heavily in electric vehicle (EV) technology and software will be better prepared for the future, while those chasing short-term profits with petrol cars may struggle.Key Facts
- Rivian is an electric car company backed by Amazon and started delivering its R2 SUV in the US.
- Many carmakers are focusing on profitable petrol and hybrid vehicles instead of investing in EVs and software.
- US and European automakers have written off over $70 billion in EV investments recently.
- The Trump administration reduced incentives for producing and buying EVs.
- Rivian lost $3.6 billion in 2025 due to heavy spending on the R2 model and self-driving technology.
- Rivian has partnerships with Amazon, Volkswagen, and Uber to develop EVs and software technology.
- Electric vehicles made up 7.8% of US car sales in 2025, with Rivian’s R2 expected to boost this share.
- Scaringe warned that traditional carmakers’ old designs make it harder and costlier to update technology compared to EVs with centralized computer systems.
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