One year after its establishment, the joint venture between Volkswagen Group and Rivian—known as RV Tech—is reporting significant progress in the development of a zonal electronic architecture and software for future software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The team is preparing reference vehicles from Volkswagen, Audi, and Scout brands for winter testing scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026, while steadily expanding its global development organization.
Since its launch in November 2024, RV Tech has focused on creating a modular, zonal SDV architecture in which powerful central computers manage all vehicle functions. This approach supports advanced driver assistance features and infotainment systems that receive continuous over-the-air updates, ensuring vehicles remain up to date without requiring service center visits.
Volkswagen Group plans to implement the new architecture on electric vehicles built on its upcoming SSP platform, which is projected to underpin up to 30 million vehicles across various segments and markets. Rivian, meanwhile, will integrate the joint venture’s technologies into its upcoming R2, R3, and R3X models and will use the software updates to maintain and enhance its existing fleet.
Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen Group, highlighted the venture’s rapid development pace and customer focus, noting that the collaboration has established a solid technological foundation for accessible, software-driven mobility. RJ Scaringe, Rivian’s Founder and CEO, emphasized the joint venture’s role in raising automotive technology standards, expressing enthusiasm for the R2 launch in the first half of next year.
Winter testing will include engineering prototypes of models such as the Volkswagen ID.EVERY1, which began development work in mid-2025 at RV Tech sites in Palo Alto and Irvine. The series version is slated to debut in 2027 as the first VW Group vehicle featuring the new SDV framework.
RV Tech’s international team has grown to more than 1,500 employees across the United States, Canada, Sweden, Serbia, and its new Berlin office, which enhances coordination with European operations. Ongoing work also addresses the next stages of development and technical specifications for additional SSP-based models expected to reach the market by the decade’s end.
Source: Volkswagen Group Press Releases
