Rivian-Volkswagen SDV tech faces 2026 winter trials

Rivian and Volkswagen Group accelerate SDV tech with 2026 winter testing

Volkswagen Group and Rivian are gearing up for a significant milestone in their collaboration. In the first quarter of 2026, they will commence winter testing of reference vehicles under the RV Tech project. This includes brands like Volkswagen, Audi, and the revived US brand Scout. Meanwhile, Rivian is set to expand into Europe with its mid-size R2 SUV.

The partnership between Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies (RV Tech) is proving successful, just a year after its founding. Rivian will integrate RV Tech's technologies into its upcoming models and even update its existing fleet. The SDV architecture, set to debut in Volkswagen's ID.Every1 in 2027, will control all vehicle functions in a modular, high-performance central computer, enabling over-the-air updates.

RV Tech, now with an international team of over 1,500 developers and a new location in Berlin, is preparing reference vehicles for winter testing. This includes models from Volkswagen, Scout, and Audi brands. The testing, set to begin in Q1 2026, will validate the performance of the zonal SDV architecture under demanding climatic conditions. The architecture, developed by RV Tech, is designed for future software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

The winter testing in 2026 will be a crucial step in the implementation of the SDV architecture in Volkswagen Group's electric vehicles based on its future Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). The collaboration between Rivian and Volkswagen Group continues to show promise, with both companies looking forward to the successful integration and testing of their innovative technologies.