Photo: Rivian, Apple | Edited
Rivian is bracing for a tough earnings call on Tuesday when rumors of a possible partnership with Apple surfaced. The rumors originating from "supply-chain sources" came after Apple canceled Project Titan in late February. It's unclear what this is all about or whether there will be any partnership at all.
Taiwanese outlet Digitimes reported about an alleged partnership between Apple and an EV startup, which many believe could be Rivian. The information comes from supply chain sources, which don't know what this partnership might mean. Many believe such a partnership will allow Rivian to step up its software game, while Apple could test some of the technologies it developed as part of its canceled car project, Project Titan.
Apple reportedly spent more than $10 billion over ten years to advance its car project. Although Apple did not admit it officially, it poured significant resources into developing an autonomous people mover. Based on insider rumors, the project was canceled and rebooted, eventually being scaled back and finally scrapped altogether. The everchanging development strategy eventually caused the project's demise after key people working on it became increasingly frustrated and left the company.
However, it's safe to assume that the team working on the project, consisting of about 2,000 of the world's finest engineers and designers, has left something behind. Whether it was autonomous driving software or other technological advances, Apple sits on a significant intellectual property treasure that it wants to salvage. In light of this, the partnership with a promising but cash-strapped EV startup makes a lot of sense.
Rivian is the maker of some of the finest EVs on the market, but it stretched too thin with new models and an additional production facility that it doesn't really need. It could certainly use some help from Apple, which sits on a mountain of money the size of Everest. Especially with the launch of its compact EVs R2, R3, and R3X, Rivian will need all the help it can get.
The partnership rumors are not completely unwarranted. In a way, Rivian has already benefitted from Apple's talent. Many engineers working on the Apple car project have left the company and landed on Rivian's payroll. These include Apple's Head of Product, Mobility, and Automotive Services, Jonas Reinke, and Apple VP of Engineering, DJ Novotney. Could they be there to prepare for a possible takeover? Highly unlikely.
While the partnership rumors might be true, the scope might be narrower than people imagine. Earlier this year, other rumors indicated that Rivian would offer Apple CarPlay support, a feature that Rivian owners have requested for years. If true, this will also count as a partnership between the two companies. Remember that partnerships usually start small before developing into something extraordinary.
The fact that the rumors of this partnership [paywall] surfaced just before the earnings call suggests this should be taken with a grain of salt. Other companies have floated around Apple partnerships during difficult moments. Among the startups rumored as possible Apple partners were Lucid in 2022, Lordstown in 2023, and Fisker in 2024. One of them is not with us anymore, Fisker is on its way out, and Lucid is not in very good health either. Hopefully, Rivian partnership rumors won't have the same outcome.
Apple reportedly spent more than $10 billion over ten years to advance its car project. Although Apple did not admit it officially, it poured significant resources into developing an autonomous people mover. Based on insider rumors, the project was canceled and rebooted, eventually being scaled back and finally scrapped altogether. The everchanging development strategy eventually caused the project's demise after key people working on it became increasingly frustrated and left the company.
However, it's safe to assume that the team working on the project, consisting of about 2,000 of the world's finest engineers and designers, has left something behind. Whether it was autonomous driving software or other technological advances, Apple sits on a significant intellectual property treasure that it wants to salvage. In light of this, the partnership with a promising but cash-strapped EV startup makes a lot of sense.
Rivian is the maker of some of the finest EVs on the market, but it stretched too thin with new models and an additional production facility that it doesn't really need. It could certainly use some help from Apple, which sits on a mountain of money the size of Everest. Especially with the launch of its compact EVs R2, R3, and R3X, Rivian will need all the help it can get.
The partnership rumors are not completely unwarranted. In a way, Rivian has already benefitted from Apple's talent. Many engineers working on the Apple car project have left the company and landed on Rivian's payroll. These include Apple's Head of Product, Mobility, and Automotive Services, Jonas Reinke, and Apple VP of Engineering, DJ Novotney. Could they be there to prepare for a possible takeover? Highly unlikely.
While the partnership rumors might be true, the scope might be narrower than people imagine. Earlier this year, other rumors indicated that Rivian would offer Apple CarPlay support, a feature that Rivian owners have requested for years. If true, this will also count as a partnership between the two companies. Remember that partnerships usually start small before developing into something extraordinary.
The fact that the rumors of this partnership [paywall] surfaced just before the earnings call suggests this should be taken with a grain of salt. Other companies have floated around Apple partnerships during difficult moments. Among the startups rumored as possible Apple partners were Lucid in 2022, Lordstown in 2023, and Fisker in 2024. One of them is not with us anymore, Fisker is on its way out, and Lucid is not in very good health either. Hopefully, Rivian partnership rumors won't have the same outcome.
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