Volkswagen und Rivian: Wolfsburgs 5,8 Milliarden-Wette um bessere Software

Summary

The video script discusses the strategic decisions of major car manufacturers in the electric vehicle market, focusing on Daimler's 2009 investment in Tesla and Volkswagen's recent partnership with Rivian. Daimler's early stake in Tesla helped the company survive its early years, but its exit in 2014 meant it didn't fully benefit from Tesla's growth. Meanwhile, Volkswagen is betting on Rivian to strengthen its electric vehicle and software development, despite Rivian's ongoing financial struggles. The script explores these moves as part of a broader trend where automakers navigate the challenges of the rapidly evolving electric vehicle industry.

Takeaways

• 😀 Daimler's 2009 investment in Tesla helped the startup survive but led to Daimler exiting in 2014, missing out on long-term gains.
• 😀 Tesla's success in the following years after Daimler's exit highlighted the missed opportunity for Daimler, which helped create one of its biggest competitors.
• 😀 Volkswagen has invested $5.8 billion in a partnership with Rivian, aiming to stabilize the company and access its EV technology and software.
• 😀 Rivian, a Tesla challenger, has been struggling financially since its founding in 2009, with no profits and high losses.
• 😀 Volkswagen’s joint venture with Rivian (RVGT) is intended to develop new EV and software architectures, while addressing Volkswagen's own software issues through its subsidiary Cariad.
• 😀 Cariad, Volkswagen's software unit, has faced delays and cost overruns in developing critical software for its electric vehicles, prompting the new JV with Rivian.
• 😀 Despite Rivian's financial struggles, VW aims to leverage its technology to develop a new software standard in the automotive industry.
• 😀 Volkswagen plans to roll out the new EV technology globally, but will use its own software for Chinese market vehicles due to local regulations and market differences.
• 😀 Rivian’s financial struggles include significant losses, a shrinking stock price, and a reduced stake by Ford, which sold off nearly 9% of its shares in the company.
• 😀 The JV between Volkswagen and Rivian could become an industry standard for EV software architecture, with plans to license the technology to other manufacturers in the future.

Q & A

What was Daimler's involvement with Tesla in 2009?

In 2009, Daimler (now part of the Mercedes-Benz Group) invested in the struggling electric vehicle startup Tesla, providing not only a financial boost but also reputation, which helped Tesla survive that year.

How did Daimler's investment in Tesla turn out financially?

Daimler's 50 million Euro investment in Tesla in 2009 grew to 700 million Euros when Daimler exited the investment five years later, making it a financially successful decision.

What was the major downside for Daimler after its exit from Tesla?

Despite the financial gains, Daimler helped create a major competitor for itself in Tesla, which became a leading force in the electric vehicle market, and Daimler did not benefit fully from the technological developments.

What recent partnership has Volkswagen entered into, and why?

Volkswagen has partnered with the American electric vehicle startup Rivian, investing 5.8 billion USD. This partnership is seen as a strategic move to stabilize Rivian and develop the software and electric vehicle technologies necessary for Volkswagen’s future.

Why is Volkswagen investing heavily in Rivian despite Rivian's financial losses?

Volkswagen’s investment aims to stabilize Rivian, which has struggled with financial losses and has yet to turn a profit. Volkswagen hopes to leverage Rivian’s technology to bolster its own electric vehicle development.

How will Volkswagen and Rivian's new joint venture operate?

The joint venture, called Rivian Volkswagen Group Technologies (RVGT), will be equally owned by Volkswagen and Rivian, and will focus on developing electric vehicle and software architecture. It will have a presence in both the US and Europe, with future plans to sell the technology to other automakers.

What challenges has Volkswagen's software division Carriot faced?

Volkswagen’s software division, Carriot, has faced significant struggles, including massive financial losses and delays in delivering key software for the company's electric vehicles, leading to cost overruns and project setbacks.

How will the partnership with Rivian affect Volkswagen's software strategy?

Volkswagen plans to phase out its current software architectures developed by Carriot over the next 10 years, and the joint venture with Rivian will take over the development of new electric vehicle and software architectures.

What role will Carriot continue to play within the Volkswagen Group after the Rivian partnership?

Carriot will retain responsibility for certain central software functions, such as autonomous driving, data management, and cloud applications, even as its role within the company diminishes due to the new partnership with Rivian.

What are Rivian's current financial and market challenges?

Rivian continues to face significant financial difficulties, having burned through billions of dollars without posting a profit. It also faces declining interest in electric vehicles in the US and a loss of key investors like Ford, which sold a portion of its shares in the company.