Former Rivian Exec Says ‘Every Car Company Will Become a Robotics Company’

Why It Matters

The shift redefines automotive business models, forcing manufacturers to invest heavily in robotics and AI to stay competitive, while reshaping the U.S. supply chain away from China.

Key Takeaways

• Rivian spin‑outs target AI‑driven manufacturing
• Behl predicts all automakers become robotics firms
• US re‑industrialisation hinges on domestic automation
• Vertical integration less viable for early‑stage startups
• Autonomy expected tangible within five years

Pulse Analysis

The conversation with Jiten Behl reflects a growing consensus that the automotive sector is at the cusp of a robotics renaissance. As electric vehicles mature, manufacturers are confronting the limits of traditional assembly lines and turning to AI‑powered robots to boost productivity and reduce reliance on foreign labor. Behl’s experience scaling Rivian from a garage concept to a public company gives him credibility, and his investment thesis—backed by Eclipse—focuses on spin‑outs that can bridge software expertise with tangible hardware execution.

For startups, the lesson is clear: vertical integration, once a hallmark of Rivian’s success, may no longer be a universal advantage. Early‑stage founders must prioritize modular, robotics‑first architectures that can be rapidly iterated and scaled without the massive capital burdens of building entire vehicle platforms. This trend is already visible in the emergence of companies like Also and Mind Robotics, which aim to embed AI into manufacturing processes, offering automakers plug‑and‑play solutions rather than end‑to‑end vehicle production.

On a macro level, the push toward domestic robotics aligns with U.S. strategic goals to diminish dependence on Chinese supply chains. By embedding autonomy and AI into factories, the United States can revitalize manufacturing jobs while maintaining technological leadership. Behl’s forecast that autonomous systems will become “real and something we can touch and feel” within five years suggests a near‑term acceleration of investment, regulatory focus, and talent migration toward the physical‑world tech ecosystem.