4 ms·
Gm invented the skateboard design but never did anything with it. Tesla uses it but it's proprietary. Rivian's shtick is that they are willing to license it and
by nimish 7y ago
Gm invented the skateboard design but never did anything with it. Tesla uses it but it's proprietary. Rivian's shtick is that they are willing to license it and build it for others. That's a big reason why Ford invested: they can immediately get access to a leading edge ev platform without spending any time on it.
- DaiPlusPlus 7y agoWasn't that part of Tesla's business-model between the Roadster and Model S? In 2010 they engineered the Toyota RAV4 EV ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_RAV4_EV https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_RAV4_EV ). I'm curious how many other companies approached Tesla to seek partnerships building other EVs...
- greglindahl 7y agoTesla also supplied a drivetrain and battery pack for a B series car from Mercedes. At this point all of the big carmakers consider Tesla a competitor and EVs too important to outsource.
- AtlasBarfed 7y agoSo they buy the big two components, motors and batteries, from other people rather than Tesla's (it would seem) superior ones. There is so much EV plans of actions in companies seem to almost only be for mollifying activist investors livid that their particular company has been asleep at the wheel for 20 years of Tesla's rise. Otherwise someone would be partnering. No one wants to admit they suck at engineering though.