Jump to content
Create New...
  • 💬 Join the Conversation

    CnG Logo SQ 2023 RedBlue FavIcon300w.png
    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has been the go-to hub for automotive enthusiasts. Join today to access our vibrant forums, upload your vehicle to the Garage, and connect with fellow gearheads around the world.

     

  • Drew Dowdell
    Drew Dowdell

    Ford Invests $500M in Rivian to Gain Platform Access

      ...but what will Ford build on that platform?...

    Ford announced today that it would be investing $500 million in Electric Vehicle startup Rivian.  The move will gain Ford access to Rivian's flexible skateboard platform.  Ford will co-develop the vehicle with Rivian and will join the already planned Ford F-150 EV and a Mustang inspired crossover EV.  Ford will provide Rivian with industrial expertise and resources.

    Rivian will remain an independent company and the investment is subject to regulatory approvals.

    Rivian has shown concept versions of the Rivian R1T, an electric pickup and Rivian R1S SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It plans to put these vehicle into production at its plant in Normal Illinois.

    Ford's investment comes just two months after Rivian landed $700m in investment commitments from Amazon and others.  The talks between Rivian and General Motors have apparently collapsed. 

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    This is awesome, but also troubling as I really would love to know why GM cannot seem to come to agreements where Ford could.

    If Ford ends up using the Rivian skateboard for a full size SUV / Pickup, who knows, I could be back in a Ford in the near Future.

    Excited by this!!! :metal:

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    8 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    GM is further along with their own platform. Maybe they didn't see the value in adding another platform from another company.

    I get that they have BEV and maybe some other full size version of BEV, but they have not shown anything yet and my gut tells me Rivian was much farther along in their skateboard than GM so I am thinking they could be value still to learn.

    End result as long as GM gets a full size truck and SUV EV out is what I care about and that it is competitive.

    Exciting times for the auto industry.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    'may you live in interesting times'.   It really is going to be interesting to see what the auto industry looks like in terms of product mix and powertrains in 5 years, 10 years, 15 years...

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    55 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

    GM steps out and Ford steps in. What a conundrum for Dfelt. 

    Nope, non exists as long as someone else delivers full size trucks and SUVs to meet the needs of Shreks like me.

    My money is the same green as anyone else. Just build what I want and like! :P 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    4 hours ago, dfelt said:

    Must be that high maintenance ICE auto you drive since electrics do not chirp! :P 

    The crickets are his only friends since that’s all he seems to hear lol. Why else bother with yet more trolling remarks?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    So Ford is investing in Rivian.  Good.  Maybe Ford can finally tame the silliness that is the F-Series Super Duty with that HUGE Diesel engine and replace it with a superior platform.  I am sick and tired of some truck owners insisting on all this "rolling coal" crap on any of our roads.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    50 minutes ago, riviera74 said:

    So Ford is investing in Rivian.  Good.  Maybe Ford can finally tame the silliness that is the F-Series Super Duty with that HUGE Diesel engine and replace it with a superior platform.  I am sick and tired of some truck owners insisting on all this "rolling coal" crap on any of our roads.

    Agreed, considering that Tesla has shown not only their Semi Concept, but a real Tesla X pulling a Boeing plane that is 265,000 pounds of weight, Electric as a HD model would do wonders for Construction sites in the inner city where quiet is appreciated early in the morning when they start work.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    12 hours ago, dfelt said:

    Agreed, considering that Tesla has shown not only their Semi Concept, but a real Tesla X pulling a Boeing plane that is 265,000 pounds of weight, Electric as a HD model would do wonders for Construction sites in the inner city where quiet is appreciated early in the morning when they start work.

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Support Real Automotive Journalism

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has delivered real content and honest opinions — not emotionless AI output or manufacturer-filtered fluff.

    If you value independent voices and authentic reviews, consider subscribing. Plans start at just $2.25/month, and paid members enjoy an ad-light experience.*

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • Thinking old school, considering how much more space EVs are giving in smaller over all packages. Nissan has stated that the 3rd generation Leaf will start out FWD, but have an AWD option after launch. Length in growing an ICE auto is old school thinking in making room for other ice auto's and yet that is where looking at comparison of seating space, cargo space, etc. we see much more space in the EVs that are equal in many cases to an ICE one class bigger. I am only pointing out that price is an old comparison tool for like segments and that with EVs this will change as people look at the price but also the inside space and we will see a bigger mix of comparison of ICE to EV across categories.
    • And none of what you just said changes what I said in my original post. Two completely different vehicles, in powertrains and class of vehicles. For starers, the Mazda is a foot longer than the upcoming Leaf. Then there's the AWD part of the equation. See where this is going yet?
    • The old days of when Ala-cart was available for building seem to be over now, mostly set packages of expensive cost for a ton of stuff not everyone will use. Sad that building a custom auto is almost gone now. I really do not think we will see custom builds or they will be very rare for people to do. Sad for sure.
    • Road Trip update on self-driving. @A Horse With No Name In this picture, I have put a red box around the cruise control / self driving section of the dash. On the left you can see the grey auto image representing any auto that gets in front of me and the white triangle which is the space and the white auto represents my EV9.  You can have 3, 2 or 1 car length on cruise control, I usually have 2 set, but changed it to 3 for this picture so you can see the full image.  The set speed is to the right and to the right of that is the steering wheel indicating that the self drive is on. If the system cannot understand the road, it goes white and over the range section on the right hand side a orange box pops up saying to take control of the wheel and a chime is sounded. Here is a 38 second video of the self driving, I put my hand close to the wheel as being the first time on a road trip using it, a truck with trailer pulled in front of me and I was not sure how it would respond. All went well, so no problems. Kia is working on per their support lane changing but is not available yet. So that is a manual intervention, but after making a lane change the self driving takes over again. This video is just cruising along. 200 miles and have to say, was very nice. Makes it easy to eat or drink something or in the case of my glasses, I had to clean them so no problem. Loved it. 20250712_104825.mp4  The EV9 truly keeps you in the center of the lane, it freaked my wife out a couple times as normally a human would go away from semi-trucks that came close to the line, but the EV9 monitors it and will adjust if it feels it needs too, but mostly just keeps going. Did this with all autos and trailers. seems to stay far more stable in driving than humans are when they are distracted with their phone or other stuff.
    • I am bordering on being disgusted with GM.  If you build something on their websites for various models, the fact that I may want a driver's side power seat, which is almost a basic need anymore, does not mean I want all the other shit that makes for a $2,800 package.  
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search