U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian plans to open a new office in London focused on artificial intelligence and autonomous driving technology, the company said, as part of efforts to support ongoing development of its driver assistance systems.
The London-based team will complement Rivian’s existing operations in Palo Alto, California. “We’re incredibly excited about opening our AI hub in London and attracting leading talent,” said James Philbin, Vice President, Autonomy & AI at Rivian. “Our connected vehicles improve over time through over-the-air updates – and the work the team will do in the UK will accelerate our plans and ensure our vehicles remain one of the most technologically advanced and appealing on the road.”
Rivian currently offers Level 2 driver assistance capabilities, which allow hands-free operation in some driving conditions while requiring driver supervision. The company is working to expand its platform toward Level 3 automation, where the vehicle can operate independently under certain conditions but may require the driver to take over when prompted.
The company said its second-generation vehicles are being developed with a focus on AI integration, using data collected from its growing fleet to advance its perception and decision-making systems. According to Rivian, improvements in multimodal sensing and neural data processing are expected to support future autonomy features.
Rivian has strategic partnerships with Amazon and Volkswagen. It developed a dedicated electric delivery vehicle for Amazon, which it recently began offering to additional customers. Volkswagen invested in Rivian earlier this year and established a joint venture focused on vehicle software and electronic architecture. In June, Volkswagen increased its stake in Rivian to 12.3% through a $1 billion investment, matching Amazon’s holding in the company.