VW's capital to Rivian isn't guaranteed, and neither is the success of the joint venture. Major automotive tie-ups don't always result in long-term successes.

The EV company and VW agreed to a partnership in June that could provide Rivian with around $5 billion in capital in the coming years.

The joint venture targets Rivian’s existing electrical architecture and software technology stack, enabling the launch of Rivian’s R2 model in the first half of 2026, the companies said.