The software challenges of today may evolve into the artificial intelligence issues of tomorrow, according to Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe.
During a lunch event at a campground in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains for the launch of the new 2027 Rivian R2, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe stopped by to respond to a few inquiries from the press. The gathered journalists questioned Scaringe on topics ranging from the R2’s production figures and pricing to declining EV sales in the U.S. and the increasing global threat posed by Chinese vehicles. However, the most extensive and spirited response came when MotorTrend asked Scaringe to expand on a prior remark predicting difficulties ahead for traditional automakers that have faced challenges in transitioning to software-defined vehicles (SDVs)—pointing to General Motors and Volkswagen—especially as a fresh wave of AI-defined vehicles (AIDVs) begins to emerge.
A Very Significant Gap
Scaringe believes AIDVs and their advantages will quickly become essential requirements for automakers and demanded by consumers, due to the capacity to continuously enhance a vehicle throughout its lifespan and elevate the overall ownership experience by connecting digital services both inside and outside the car. “When you start to think beyond software-defined vehicles and to AI-defined vehicles, there’s a very significant gap that I think the vast majority of Western manufacturers have a real challenge with,” Scaringe stated. “And I definitely think the gap is going to widen.”
An SDV will apply AI capabilities to various aspects of a vehicle, from autonomous driving systems to in-cabin digital assistants, said Greg Basich, associate director at the research firm Counterpoint Research. Generally, traditional automakers are lagging, but they are closing the gap, he noted. “Ford, GM, and Volvo are all upgrading to Google Assistant that uses Gemini,” Google’s AI assistant,” Basich added.
Although legacy brands tend to prioritize infotainment when it comes to AI, Scaringe said Rivian is also employing the technology to make more informed decisions regarding vehicle health and diagnostics, aiming to improve the ownership experience and shift consumer expectations. “It’s important to think about leveraging AI to have informed prognostics around the health of your suspension or battery and to be able to integrate that, say, with an owner’s calendar to schedule service,” he explained. “You’ll be frustrated if a service technician calls and says, ‘I’d like to have your car in for service this week,’ and you’re, like, ‘I’m in Europe. How do you not know that?’”