Rivian’s Software Will Power Volkswagen’s Affordable ID. EVERY1 EV

Volkswagen just unveiled a super-affordable electric car for the European market, the ID. EVERY1, and while the focus is on its budget-friendly price tag, there’s a major Rivian connection under the hood. According to TechCrunch, this little EV will be the first to roll out with Rivian’s software and vehicle architecture—marking a huge moment for the American EV maker’s expansion beyond its own trucks and SUVs.

The ID. EVERY1 is expected to go into production in 2027 with a starting price of around $21,500, making it one of the cheapest EVs on the market. And while VW was a bit vague about who exactly developed the software for it, sources confirmed to TechCrunch that Rivian is behind the next-gen system that will power the vehicle. That means over-the-air updates, improved software capabilities, and, most importantly, a big step toward making Rivian a key player in EV technology, not just in vehicle manufacturing.

This all stems from the $5.8 billion joint venture that Rivian and Volkswagen announced last year. The goal? To share tech and development costs while scaling new EV innovations faster. With Volkswagen aiming to become a leader in the affordable EV space and Rivian looking to diversify beyond its adventure-focused vehicles, the partnership makes a lot of sense. Instead of Rivian spending billions developing smaller, mass-market EVs, it gets to license its tech to one of the biggest automakers in the world. In return, VW gets a much-needed software upgrade—an area it has struggled with.

For Rivian, this is a smart move. Its software has already been praised for being one of the best in the EV industry, and now it’s getting into the hands of a wider audience. Plus, it gives Rivian an extra revenue stream outside of selling its own vehicles, which is crucial as the company scales up.

VW’s ID. EVERY1 is still in the concept phase, but it’s clear that Rivian’s influence in the EV space is growing well beyond the R1T and R1S. Whether this leads to more Rivian-powered vehicles from VW—or even other automakers—remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: Rivian is no longer just a truck company.