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Volkswagen Boosts Stake in Rivian as EV Partnership Grows
Volkswagen is delivering its second $1 billion investment to Rivian this week after the EV maker hit key financial targets, including back-to-back quarters of gross profit. This follows VW’s initial $1 billion buy-in last year, which gave the German automaker an 8.6% stake in the company. The funding is part of VW’s broader $5.8 billion commitment, which includes equity and contributions to the previously announced joint venture focused on EV software and architecture. If all tranches are completed, Volkswagen could…

Rivian Adventure Network Launches Off-Peak Charging Rates
RivianTrackr has learned that starting today, Rivian is rolling out time-of-use pricing across its Rivian Adventure Network (RAN), beginning with upgraded v1.5 chargers. This shift gives EV drivers more control over how much they pay to charge, especially in areas where charging can be timed overnight. In a first look shared with RivianTrackr, Rivian confirmed that time-of-use pricing is now live in select markets. In Charlotte, rates drop to $0.27/kWh for Rivians from 2–8 am, $0.35 from 10 pm–2 am,…

What’s Coming in Rivian Update 2025.22
Rivian’s 2025.22 update is currently in early testing with employees and is shaping up to be a solid quality-of-life release. While it doesn’t introduce major new features, it brings a bunch of meaningful improvements across both Gen 1 and Gen 2 vehicles. 2025.22 is still in internal testing, but if all goes well, we expect a wider rollout in the coming weeks. See full release notes

Inside Rivian R2 Development and Real World Testing
Rivian just shared a behind-the-scenes look at the R2’s first builds, and it’s clear this vehicle is designed for scale. The R2 is simpler by design, with subframes and suspension components that snap together quickly to speed up assembly. Engineers are fine-tuning every step now to avoid issues when full production starts. These early R2s are already hitting the desert for intense testing. From deep sand and boulders to water troughs and gravel impacts, the goal is to push the…

Rivian Lays Off 140 Employees to Streamline Ahead of R2 Launch
Rivian has laid off approximately 140 salaried employees, roughly 1% of its workforce, as part of a broader effort to streamline operations in preparation for the launch of the R2 in 2026, according to a report from TechCrunch. The cuts primarily affected Rivian’s manufacturing team and have been quietly rolling out since Wednesday. Multiple former employees, speaking anonymously, said they were told their roles were being eliminated to address “process inefficiencies.” Rivian confirmed the layoffs in a statement, calling it a…