TechCrunch Mobility: Rivian’s R2 gambit
Source: TechCrunch
This Week’s Highlights
I was out for a few days last week, so we have a bit of catching up to do! Below are some of the bigger news items you’ll find in this edition, including Wayve’s $1.2 B raise:
Wayve raises $1.2 B from Nvidia, Uber, and three automakers
Housekeeping
I’ll be in Austin next week for SXSW (the annual tech, music, film, and culture event that always attracts an interesting collection of tech founders, creators, politicians, and other industry folks).
-
Rivian event – the company is expected to reveal full details of its upcoming R2 line.
-
Panel moderation – I’ll be moderating “Innovation & Impact: Female Leaders Transforming Legacy Industries.”
Panelists:
- Claire McDonough – CFO, Rivian
- Amy Errett – CEO & Founder, Madison Reed
- Dustee Jenkins – Chief Public Affairs Officer, Spotify
If you’re attending, please reach out!
Rivian’s Fast‑Track R2 Launch
Rivian is planning one of the fastest launches of a new all‑electric car in the U.S. with its forthcoming R2 SUV. The stakes couldn’t be any higher.
Senior reporter Sean O’Kane examined historical sales data and Rivian’s own projections for 2026. Rivian says it expects to sell 20,000–25,000 R2s this year, with the first deliveries slated for June once production begins.
“That means it has six months to reach that goal. Even if Rivian hits the low end of that target, its sales rate will outpace every other comparable electric vehicle at or under $60,000 aside from the Tesla Model Y.” – Sean O’Kane
Read the full story here:
Rivian is betting its future on one of the fastest EV launches in U.S. history
Image Credits: TechCrunch / Sean O’Kane
My Question for You
What tactical move is Rivian planning to use to reach that sales goal?
“It won’t be enough to merely state, ‘Pent‑up demand, stupid.’” This is no small feat. I expect Rivian to employ a variety of tactics to spread the word and turn interest into actual sales.
What do you think the company will do? Email me with your thoughts!
Upcoming TechCrunch Event
| Location | Dates |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | October 13‑15, 2026 |
Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to reply with any questions or story ideas.
A Little Bird
Image Credit: Bryce Durbin
No little birds this week — or at least none we can share.
If you have a tip for us, you can either:
- Email me at
- Reach me on Signal: kkorosec.07
Sean O’Kane’s email:
Deals!
Image credit: Bryce Durbin
Wayve – $1.2 B raise (potentially $1.5 B)
Wayve announced a $1.2 billion financing round (up to $1.5 billion if it hits a $300 million milestone‑based investment from Uber). The U.K. startup is now valued at $8.6 billion.
- Business model: Licenses its software—both a full‑stack autonomous‑driving suite and a lighter advanced‑driver‑assistance system—to automakers and robotaxi operators.
- Technology: A self‑learning, end‑to‑end neural‑network stack that requires no high‑definition maps and is hardware‑agnostic.
- Backers: Mercedes‑Benz, Nissan, Stellantis, among others.
Other deals that caught my eye
| Company | Deal | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Denso | Made a takeover proposal for Kyoto‑based chip maker Rohm. | WSJ |
| Einride | Secured an oversubscribed $113 M PIPE ahead of its public debut (H1 2026). | TechCrunch |
| Harbinger | Acquired autonomous‑driving software company Phantom AI (terms undisclosed). | TechCrunch |
| Holyvolt | Bought battery‑materials firm Wildcat Discovery Technologies for $73 M. | Holyvolt Press Release |
| Momenta | Confidentially filed for a Hong Kong IPO; may raise ≥ $1 B. | Bloomberg |
| Nominal | Raised $80 M in a Series B extension at a $1 B valuation (led by Founders Fund). | TechCrunch |
| Toyota | Increased its offer for supplier Toyota Industries to $30 B. | Reuters |
| Zeno | Raised $25 M (Series A) to expand its app‑controlled battery‑swap network and produce more Emara motorcycles. • $20.5 M equity round led by Congruent Ventures (with Active Impact & Lowercarbon Capital). • $4.5 M debt facility from Camber Road & Trifecta Capital. | TechCrunch |
All links were active as of March 2026.
Notable Reads and Other Tidbits
Image credit: Bryce Durbin
BYD unveiled a new battery pack that can charge from 10 % to 70 % in five minutes. It’s a potential game‑changer, but the claim comes with a caveat: the pack requires a specific EV charger.
Hyundai, Toyota, and Chinese automakers such as Chery could feel the most impact from the U.S.–Israel war with Iran, as the Middle East accounts for a significant share of their deliveries. The analysis comes from Bernstein and was reported by CNBC.
Volkswagen Group hit an EV milestone this week, delivering 4 million all‑electric vehicles since the launch of its first model in 2013. Half of those were Volkswagen‑branded; the remainder came from Škoda, SEAT/CUPRA, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and Porsche. See the full announcement here.
A video shows a Waymo robotaxi blocking an ambulance as it responded to a mass‑shooting scene in Austin over the weekend. A spokesperson for Austin‑Travis County EMS told Axios that an officer followed established protocol, moved the vehicle quickly, and that Waymo did not provide a statement at the time. This incident adds to a growing list of cases where first responders have had to intervene with Waymo vehicles, raising questions about the technology’s readiness.
One More Thing …
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has scheduled a forum on autonomous‑vehicle safety for Tuesday. A who’s‑who of AV leaders are expected to attend:
- Chris Urmson – Co‑founder and CEO, Aurora
- Tekedra Mawakana – Co‑CEO, Waymo
- Aicha Evans – CEO, Zoox