Rivian Mind Robotics startup Secured $115 Million to Reshape Manufacturing

Tesla is nearly done with having vehicles as its number one priority, and Rivian may not be far behind. In its third-quarter shareholders’ letter, Rivian announced its move into industrial AI and robotics. The Rivian Mind Robotics startup, a new spin-off company, has already secured $115 million in seed funding led by the venture capital firm Eclipse.

This move is a strong signal that Rivian views itself as a technology company first, aiming to apply its deep expertise in real-world systems and data to new frontiers. The focus is currently on manufacturing, but the potential for this industrial AI extends far beyond the automotive sector.

Here is a look at what the new venture is aiming to achieve and how it fits into the future of car manufacturing.

The Robotics Data Flywheel

The creation of Mind Robotics is a strategic effort to gain direct control over the design and development of advanced AI robotics focused on industrial applications.

Feature	Goal	Rivian’s Reasoning
Mission	Use industrial AI to reshape how physical world businesses operate.	To run and operate manufacturing plants more efficiently.
Foundation	Robotics Data Flywheel	Leveraging Rivian’s massive amount of operations data as a training base.
Funding	$115 Million Seed Round	Led by VC firm Eclipse (who also backed Rivian’s first spinoff, ALSO Inc.).
Leadership	RJ Scaringe (Rivian CEO)	Serves as chairman of the board of directors.

Mind Robotics will leverage data generated from Rivian’s production lines to improve robotic precision and plant efficiency. CEO RJ Scaringe noted that the potential for AI to shift how companies operate in the “physical world is, in some ways, unimaginably large.”

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe - at MI Tech Center 10-6-25 — Source: Paul A. Eisenstein

A Tech Company, Not Just an Automaker

The launch of the Rivian Mind Robotics startup marks the company’s second spin-off this year, following the launch of its micro-mobility firm, ALSO Inc. This approach signals a company that views its technological expertise as a separate, monetizable asset.

This strategy mirrors initiatives by the BMW Group, which has worked to transform its production facilities to be more nimble and automated. Rivian appears to be gearing up for a “robots-first” manufacturing process:

Streamlined Production: Automating processes that required specialists, reducing human hard labor, and improving productivity.
Agile Refitting: When a vehicle is redesigned, machines only need code to be rewritten for the new process, supporting facilities in being refitted quickly.

By developing products and robotic solutions for its own plants, Mind Robotics aims to use Rivian’s factory experience as a critical proving ground before extending its services to broader industrial applications. This push confirms that for firms like Rivian and Tesla, building vehicles is increasingly about mastering the science of creating them.

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