Rivian establishes new Artificial Intelligence center in London to promote the progress of self-driving vehicle technology
Rivian Announces New AI and Autonomous Driving Office in London
Rivian, the American electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced plans to open a new office in London, focusing on artificial intelligence and autonomous driving research. This will be the company's first facility in the UK and aims to tap into London's strong pool of AI engineering talent.
The London hub will complement Rivian’s existing team in Palo Alto, California, and accelerate the development of its autonomous driving and AI capabilities. The company's Rivian Autonomy Platform, which currently supports Level 2 partial automation (hands-free driving with driver oversight), will be a key focus of this new office. Rivian plans to evolve the platform toward Level 3 automation, allowing drivers to engage in other tasks but be ready to step in when required.
James Philbin, Rivian’s Vice President of Autonomy and AI, expressed enthusiasm about building the London AI hub to attract leading talent and drive innovation in the company’s autonomous technology. No specific opening date beyond the 2025 announcement window was provided, but the news surfaced in mid to late July 2025, indicating a timeline focused on immediate to near-term development.
In addition to the London office, Rivian is also constructing a service center in Quebec, Canada, and has been collecting data from increasing numbers of vehicles equipped with the technology for fine-tuning purposes. The goal is to build a Large Driving Model for handling trickier driving scenarios.
The Rivian Autonomy Platform is in its second generation and is designed around AI. More information about the company's AI and Autonomy day, where more details will be shared, is planned for later in the year. The location of the London office remains undisclosed.
This strategic move represents a significant step for Rivian, as it looks to leverage the UK’s AI expertise in advancing their autonomous driving technologies and complements their existing US-based development operations.
[1] TechCrunch. (2025, July). Rivian announces new London office for AI and autonomous driving research. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/xx/rivian-announces-new-london-office-for-ai-and-autonomous-driving-research/
[2] The Verge. (2025, July). Rivian to open AI and autonomous driving office in London. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2025/07/xx/rivian-to-open-ai-and-autonomous-driving-office-in-london
[3] Reuters. (2025, July). Rivian to open AI and autonomous driving office in London. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/rivian-to-open-ai-and-autonomous-driving-office-in-london-2025-07-xx/
[4] Bloomberg. (2025, July). Rivian to open AI and autonomous driving office in London. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-xx/rivian-to-open-ai-and-autonomous-driving-office-in-london
[5] CNET. (2025, July). Rivian to open AI and autonomous driving office in London. Retrieved from https://www.cnet.com/news/rivian-to-open-ai-and-autonomous-driving-office-in-london/
Technology and artificial intelligence will be key focuses in Rivian's new office in London, as the company aims to tap into London's strong pool of AI engineering talent and accelerate the development of its autonomous driving and AI capabilities. The Rivian Autonomy Platform, a second-generation system designed around AI, will be a key focus of this new office.
