Rivian plans a robotaxi with Uber in 2028
Rivian's CEO used the latest earnings call to push self-driving plans, with hands-free driving first going to employees in 2026.
The facts
- According to The Verge, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe spent less of the earnings call on the R2 SUV production ramp than on the company's self-driving ambitions.
- Rivian plans to roll out a point-to-point hands-free driving feature to its own employees for testing in 2026, and to customers in 2027.
- The company says its first robotaxi vehicles will launch in partnership with Uber in 2028.
- The Verge describes the autonomy plans as still unproven and says the next two years will decide whether the bet pays off.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
A carmaker that talks more about software than the car it is building right now is telling you where it wants to be valued. Dates on a slide are promises, not products. The test is whether the employee rollout happens on schedule and what comes back from it.
For builders
Rivian has set public milestones: employee testing in 2026, customers in 2027, robotaxis in 2028. If you build for autonomy or ride-hailing, track whether each date holds.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from The Verge's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.