The companies said the deal is now up to $5.8 billion – up from $5 billion – with the first VW models to use Rivian's software and electrical architecture arriving as early as 2027.

The joint venture targets Rivian’s existing electrical architecture and software technology stack, enabling the launch of Rivian’s R2 model in the first half of 2026, the companies said.

The new agreement builds on an earlier announcement in which the German automaker said it would invest up to $5 billion in Rivian, a maker of electric vehicles. The new venture brings them closer.