Latest news with #Rivian
Auto Blog
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
China's Safety Crackdown: The End of Default One-Pedal EV Mode?
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. China may change the way EVs operate by default If you have ever driven an electric vehicle, such as one from Tesla or Rivian, or even models made by mainstream manufacturers like Nissan or Hyundai, you would probably have come face-to-face with a feature called one-pedal driving. On the surface, one-pedal driving sounds like a very convenient and frills-free way to drive. In electric vehicles and a selection of hybrid cars that feature it, the system utilizes its regenerative braking system to bring the vehicle to a stop when the driver comes off the accelerator, which can maximize electric range and potentially reduce brake pad wear. However, one of the largest EV markets is becoming much more strict about groundbreaking tech, as experts in the region raise red flags about its efficacy. BYD Showroom in Shanghai — Source: Getty Images China adds new legislation regarding EVs and 'single pedal braking' According to a new report by the Chinese state-owned broadcaster CCTV News, the regulators at the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently released some new regulations that will see some changes to the passenger cars sold in the country. Under the terms of GB 21670-2025, in the new edition of the 'Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Passenger Car Braking Systems,' regulators state that upon startup, 'the vehicle cannot be slowed down to a stop by releasing the accelerator pedal, and the driver must use the brake pedal to stop the vehicle.' To put it into plain English: one-pedal driving hasn't been entirely banned in China, but drivers must go through menus or toggle a switch to select it each time they drive, which regulators feel is much safer. A Street Charging Station in Fuyang — Source: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images The new rules intend to address safety concerns The new regulation, which will come into effect in 2027, comes as many drivers in China, particularly older drivers, have been having a tough time with regenerative braking and one-pedal driving, which became the default setting in many Chinese-market EVs, particularly those made by Tesla. This effect caused some strange crashes labeled as 'sudden unintended acceleration' (SUA), where drivers who thought they hit the brakes ended up stomping the throttle and causing some serious accidents. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. After a number of crashes, regulators ordered Tesla to recall its cars and update the driving system, switching the default braking mode from 'Hold' to 'Creep' to encourage drivers to use the brake pedal to keep the car still. However, regulators weren't completely happy with the fix and decided to change the rules. Last year, they announced this decision with a draft bill, and it's now been approved as part of the national standard. In addition to the new one-pedal rule, starting next year, new EVs sold in China must have brake lights that illuminate when deceleration caused by energy recovery exceeds 1.3 m/s². This addresses a common concern with drivers following behind EVs, who might not realize a car is slowing down without the conventional brake light cues. The new rules also indicate that anti-lock braking systems will become mandatory on new EVs in China starting in 2026, which is considerably later compared to the US (which mandated them in 2011) and the EU (which mandated them in 2004). Final thoughts The sophisticated tech that goes into EVs is cool and all, but as someone who is technically part of the social media-savvy and technologically adept Generation Z, regenerative braking and one-pedal driving are my least favorite features in today's EVs and hybrid vehicles. A string of videos about Uber passengers who get carsick in Teslas never fails to reach my 'for you' page on TikTok. Still, after watching many of them, it is easy to tell that their grievances lie with the regenerative braking system that Uber and other rideshare drivers somehow do not know how to use. Oops! We're unable to load this content right now. View directly on TikTok 'What the hell does Elon Musk put in his cars to make me feel so violently ill every single time I'm in one?' asked TikToker Gabe Escobar in an October 2024 video. 'I don't get carsick or motion sick ever in my life; I've been on 12-hour car rides, and I've been totally fine. I've been on a shrimp boat for an entire day and did not get sick.' I am not entirely against regenerative braking, but in my experience driving cars with this kind of feature, including hybrids like the Toyota Crown and EVs like the Tesla Model Y, Rivian R1S, or Genesis GV60, it takes a while to adjust to each car's re-gen 'intensity.' China is halfway there by regulating regenerative braking to be turned on in order to use it, but I think they should also mandate controls that adjust the level of 'assistance' a driver gets. A seasoned fare-taking driver's ability to go from gas to brake is muscle memory, and they will need the ability to either make the assistance low or turn it off altogether. About the Author James Ochoa View Profile
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rivian: Guggenheim sees fundamental and narrative risks to long-term bull thesis
-- Guggenheim downgraded Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN) to Neutral from Buy in a note to clients on Monday, citing increased concerns about long-term demand, pricing, and U.S. policy headwinds that challenge its bullish outlook for the company's future R2 and R3 models. 'We are updating numbers post-RIVN 2Q deliveries and lowering our rating… to reflect softer long-term R2/R3 assumptions driven by both softer R1 sales and negative U.S. Electric Vehicle and Emissions policy changes,' Guggenheim analysts wrote. The firm said it no longer has 'confidence in the required volumes and/or required ASPs to support our prior price target,' despite maintaining belief in Rivian's cost-reduction goals for its upcoming R2 model. Rivian's weakening R1 demand is now seen as a 'modest negative' for R2 and R3 volume projections. In particular, the expiration of electric vehicle incentives under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' is expected to hurt pricing and volumes. 'The loss of EV incentives is likely to negatively impact long-term ASP and/or volume potential as well.' Guggenheim has trimmed its 2028 unit forecast to 150,000, down from 185,000 previously. Although the firm acknowledged possible positive offsets, such as auto interest deductions and potential market share gains if competitors abandon their EV plans, it does not believe these are 'large enough to offset the negative ramifications from lost consumer credits.' Additionally, reduced emissions credits are expected to lower Rivian's future earnings and free cash flow, leading Guggenheim to cut its DCF valuation by nearly $2 per share. With its price target removed, the firm now sees fair value at around $13 per share. Related articles Rivian: Guggenheim sees fundamental and narrative risks to long-term bull thesis Clients buying into summer rally, bracing for later pullback, says BofA's Hartnett After soaring 149%, this stock is back in our AI's favor - & already +25% in July Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why Rivian (RIVN) Shares Are Sliding Today
Shares of electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN) fell 3.1% in the afternoon session after a downgrade from Guggenheim analyst Ronald Jewsikow, who moved the electric vehicle maker's rating to 'Neutral' from 'Buy'. The downgrade reflects growing concerns over weakening demand for Rivian's current R1T pickup and R1S SUV models. Guggenheim also pointed to headwinds from recent U.S. policy changes, including the elimination of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, which could negatively impact future sales and profitability. The firm lowered its 2028 sales forecast for Rivian significantly, from 185,000 units to 150,000, citing the softer demand for the R1 platform as a potential negative indicator for the upcoming, lower-priced R2 and R3 models. The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks. Is now the time to buy Rivian? Access our full analysis report here, it's free. Rivian's shares are extremely volatile and have had 36 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today's move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business. Rivian is down 4.1% since the beginning of the year, and at $12.71 per share, it is trading 29.2% below its 52-week high of $17.94 from July 2024. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Rivian's shares at the IPO in November 2021 would now be looking at an investment worth $126.13. Here at StockStory, we certainly understand the potential of thematic investing. Diverse winners from Microsoft (MSFT) to Alphabet (GOOG), Coca-Cola (KO) to Monster Beverage (MNST) could all have been identified as promising growth stories with a megatrend driving the growth. So, in that spirit, we've identified a relatively under-the-radar profitable growth stock benefiting from the rise of AI, available to you FREE via this link. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe's voting control slips following divorce settlement
Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe has transferred a portion of his ownership stake and voting power as part of a newly settled divorce proceeding, according to a regulatory filing. Scaringe moved about 4 million in shares and 6 million in options to his ex-wife, Meagan Scaringe, on July 9 as part of the settlement, the filing shows. At Rivian's current stock price, those shares and options could be worth roughly $130 million, though they have varying strike prices that would affect the total return if sold. The change in stock ownership comes at the end of a two-year-long divorce proceeding, court documents show. Scaringe owned more than 15 million shares of Class A stock and nearly 8 million Class B shares when the company submitted its annual proxy report April 29. As a result of the transfer, Scaringe's voting power has slipped from 7.6% earlier this year to around 4%, the lowest since Rivian's 2021 IPO. The shift in stock ownership doesn't have an impact on Rivian's business or operations, according to the company. In an official statement emailed to TechCrunch, a spokesperson said 'RJ and Meagan finalized their divorce. They will continue to prioritize co-parenting their children.' The settlement comes at a pivotal time for Rivian. Rivian has redesigned its R1S SUV and R1T truck in a bid to lower manufacturing costs, while improving performance of its flagship vehicles. However, the company is banking on the next addition to its lineup — the highly anticipated R2 SUV that has a $45,000 base price — to grow sales. That vehicle won't go on sale until the first half of 2026. The ownership structure of Rivian has shifted since its IPO in 2021. At that time, Amazon and Ford were among the largest stakeholders. Today, Ford is essentially out and Volkswagen Group has emerged as a major player. In late 2024, Rivian entered into a joint venture valued at $5.8 billion with Volkswagen focused on software and electrical architecture. Rivian has provided technology and employees to the joint venture, while Volkswagen has largely contributed money in the form of share purchases and convertible debt. As a result, the German automotive giant now owns 12.3% of Rivian, according to a recent filing. That puts it slightly behind Amazon, which owned 14.2% of Rivian as of the April 2025 proxy filing. That's enough to give Amazon the most voting power of any single shareholder: 13.3%. (Ford and T. Rowe Price also used to be major shareholders after the IPO, but have since sold down their stakes.) Scaringe's ownership stake in Rivian was 2% prior to the divorce settlement, according to the proxy filing. But he had a 7.6% share of the voting power, thanks in part to the Class B stock, which comes with 10 votes per share. (Rivian's Class A stock only comes with 1 vote per share.) The transfer of shares and options in the settlement cuts his voting power to around 4%. Unlike many high-profile tech founders, Scaringe never had a tremendous amount of voting power post-IPO. The most he wielded was 9.2% in 2022. That figure remained unchanged in 2023, fell to 8.7% in 2024, and again to 7.6% in 2025 following the Volkswagen investment. The Class B stock included in the settlement was automatically converted into Class A stock, meaning Scaringe's ex-wife will not likely have much voting power relative to other shareholders if she maintains the holding. A lawyer representing her did not respond to a request for comment sent over the weekend. The CEO and founder still controls a mix of around 50 million shares, options, and Restricted Stock Units, or RSUs. As those fully vest, his ownership stake and voting power could go back up. Scaringe founded Rivian in 2009, and he was married in 2014. He took Rivian public in 2021. Records obtained from Orange County Superior Court show that he filed for divorce in October 2023, with his ex-wife agreeing to separate in another filing one month later. Sign in to access your portfolio
TechCrunch
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- TechCrunch
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe's voting control slips following divorce settlement
Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe has transferred a portion of his ownership stake and voting power as part of a newly-settled divorce proceeding, according to a regulatory filing. Scaringe moved about 4 million in shares and 6 million in options to his ex-wife, Meagan Scaringe, on July 9 as part of the settlement, the filing shows. At Rivian's current stock price, those shares and options could be worth roughly $130 million, though they have varying strike prices that would affect the total return if sold. The change in stock ownership comes at the end of a two-year-long divorce proceeding, court documents show. Scaringe owned more than 15 million shares of Class A stock and nearly 8 million Class B shares when the company submitted its annual proxy report April 29. As a result of the transfer, Scaringe's voting power has slipped from 7.6% earlier this year to around 4%, the lowest since Rivian's 2021 IPO. The shift in stock ownership doesn't have an impact on Rivian's business or operations, according to the company. In an official statement emailed to TechCrunch, a spokesperson said 'RJ and Meagan finalized their divorce. They will continue to prioritize co-parenting their children.' The settlement comes at a pivotal time for Rivian. Rivian has redesigned its R1S SUV and R1T truck in a bid to lower manufacturing costs, while improving performance of its flagship vehicles. However, the company is banking on the next addition to its lineup — the highly anticipated R2 SUV that has a $45,000 base price — to grow sales. That vehicle won't go on sale until the first half of 2026. The ownership structure of Rivian has shifted since its IPO in 2021. At that time, Amazon and Ford were among the largest stakeholders. Today, Ford is essentially out and Volkswagen Group has emerged as a major player. Techcrunch event Save up to $475 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW In late 2024, Rivian entered into a joint venture valued at $5.8 billion with Volkswagen focused on software and electrical architecture. Rivian has provided technology and employees to the joint venture, while Volkswagen has largely contributed money in the form of share purchases and convertible debt. As a result, the German automotive giant now owns 12.3% of Rivian, according to a recent filing. That puts it slightly behind Amazon, which owned 14.2% of Rivian as of the April 2025 proxy filing. That's enough to give Amazon the most voting power of any single shareholder: 13.3%. (Ford and T. Rowe Price also used to be major shareholders after the IPO, but have since sold down their stakes.) Scaringe's ownership stake in Rivian was 2% prior to the divorce settlement, according to the proxy filing. But he had a 7.6% share of the voting power, thanks in part to the Class B stock, which comes with 10 votes per share. (Rivian's Class A stock only comes with 1 vote per share.) The transfer of shares and options in the settlement cuts his voting power to around 4%. Unlike many high-profile tech founders, Scaringe never had a tremendous amount of voting power post-IPO. The most he wielded was 9.2% in 2022. That figure remained unchanged in 2023, fell to 8.7% in 2024, and again to 7.6% in 2025 following the Volkswagen investment. The Class B stock included in the settlement was automatically converted into Class A stock, meaning Scaringe's ex-wife will not likely have much voting power relative to other shareholders if she maintains the holding. A lawyer representing her did not respond to a request for comment sent over the weekend. The CEO and founder still controls a mix of around 50 million shares, options, and Restricted Stock Units, or RSUs. As those fully vest, his ownership stake and voting power could go back up. Scaringe founded Rivian in 2009, and he was married in 2014. He took Rivian public in 2021. Records obtained from Orange County Superior Court show that he filed for divorce in October 2023, with his ex-wife agreeing to separate in another filing one month later.
