Rivian is one of the few pure EV makers to outsource its electric motors

Pure electric vehicle companies have adopted several strategies to stand out from the competition. Tesla makes many of its components in-house, including the electric motors of its vehicles. Even Lucid Motors, which is still ramping up Air’s production ramp, is proudly highlighting that its electric motors, which were also developed in-house, are surprisingly compact. and are efficient. Rivian, on the other hand, has adopted a different strategy.

Information services provider IHS Markit took a look at the motor sourcing strategies of several automakers, particularly amid the emergence of the electric vehicle sector. According to the firm’s analysis, it appears that established electric vehicle makers like Tesla look to electric drive units as a potential source of their efficiency and competitive advantage. An example of this can be found in the new electric motors of the Tesla Model S and Model X Plaid, which have carbon-sleeve rotors.

credit: IHS Markit

This was a technology that was developed and eventually produced in-house, and it gives the Model S and Model X Plaid a notable advantage over their similarly priced rivals. The Lucid is the same way, with the company taking special care to ensure that its motors are as compact and efficient as possible. It’s a strategy that is not shared by some of the legendary carmakers such as General Motors, some of which have opted to source their electric motors from Tier 1 suppliers such as Bosch.

In the analysis of IHS Markit, Rivian can be seen as a different kind. This was because the electric truck maker initially outsourced its electric drive units entirely, allowing the company to accelerate its product launches. However, it should be noted that even Rivian is developing its own electric motors, which means the company will adopt an insource strategy similar to that of rivals like Tesla and Lucid in the future. IHS Markit, for its part, noted that insourcing will become more prevalent in the coming decade.

“We predict a steady shift toward US OEM-driven electric drive insourcing in the coming decade. However, there will be many situations where outsourcing doesn’t make sense. Rivian, for example, initially rolled out its electric drive fully This has helped accelerate its first product launch, while later developing its own. The recently announced acquisition of motor supplier Santrol by BorgWarner shows the sector is still in Tier 1s Carmakers may never fully source electric drives. As internal combustion engines mature, the industry is 90% sourced, while 10% of engines are externally sourced. are done,” said IHS Markit.

Rivian is still in the process of accelerating deliveries of its vehicles, but the company has already indicated that it is ready to adapt to the market. More recently, and as nickel prices soared amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, CEO RJ Scaring said during the company’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 earnings call that Rivian would offer nickel-free lithium-ion batteries for its Amazon deliveries. iron-phosphate (LFP) cells. The van This is quite an impressive part of the company, as its Amazon delivery van will account for a large portion of Rivian’s production output in the near future.

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Rivian is one of the few pure EV makers to outsource its electric motors