Rivian’s Founder Reveals Mind Robotics and Plans for Future Factory Robots

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has revealed new details about Mind Robotics, a humanoid robotics startup he founded last year that has already raised more than $1 billion.

Unlike Tesla’s approach of developing humanoid robots directly within the automaker, Scaringe said Mind Robotics will remain a separate company while maintaining close ties with Rivian, which will serve as both a major shareholder and the startup’s first customer.

Rivian CEO builds robotics company outside automaker

Speaking during a media event surrounding the upcoming Rivian R2 launch, Scaringe said Mind Robotics expects to unveil its first product within the next year. The company is focused on developing humanoid robots designed to work alongside people in industrial environments, including vehicle manufacturing facilities.

According to Scaringe, Rivian intentionally structured the venture as an independent company rather than incorporating robotics development into the automaker itself. The arrangement allows him to remain involved with both businesses while creating a dedicated organization focused solely on robotics and artificial intelligence, according to CNBC report.

The strategy differs from Tesla’s approach, where development of the Optimus humanoid robot takes place directly within the automaker. Scaringe said Rivian and Mind Robotics maintain a close relationship, however, with the startup already using Rivian data to help train its AI systems.

Mind Robotics currently has dozens of open positions spanning software engineering, hardware development, and data architecture as it ramps operations ahead of its first product launch.

Humanoid robots could become future factory coworkers

Scaringe believes humanoid robots will become increasingly common across manufacturing facilities and eventually work alongside human employees rather than replacing them outright.

He argued that industrial labor represents a multitrillion-dollar opportunity and suggested that manufacturers are already facing labor shortages that robotics could help address. Rivian itself continues hiring across manufacturing and engineering roles as it expands production.

While acknowledging concerns about job displacement, Scaringe said he expects robots to initially handle repetitive and simpler tasks while humans remain responsible for more complex activities requiring advanced reasoning, judgment, and dexterity.

The executive also expressed strong optimism about the pace of artificial intelligence development, describing the current period as one of the most transformative technological moments in history. According to Scaringe, advances in AI and robotics are occurring far faster than many people realize, potentially accelerating the deployment of humanoid robots into real-world workplaces.

If successful, Mind Robotics could eventually provide Rivian with robotic workers for future manufacturing operations, creating a partnership that mirrors the increasingly interconnected relationship between artificial intelligence, robotics, and the automotive industry.

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