Shoot us a Text.

Episode #1065: Today we’re breaking down Rivian’s big win with VW, a wild scene in LA as Waymo vehicles go up in flames, and how back-to-school shopping is creeping into summer.

Show Notes with links:

• The tech partnership between EV upstart Rivian and legacy automaker Volkswagen just took a major leap forward. Rivian’s upcoming R2 SUV platform won’t just support Rivian’s own vehicles—it’s about to become the backbone of every new EV under the Volkswagen Group umbrella.
  • All VW brands—Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Scout, Skoda, Seat—will share the R2 tech stack.
  • VW’s ID Every1 will be the first to launch using Rivian’s off-the-shelf zonal architecture.
  • The partnership helps VW replace its troubled Cariad software division with a proven modular platform.
  • Rivian’s Chief Software Officer confirmed all VW EVs will use the same scalable architecture, calling it “the digital brain” of the portfolio.
  • Each brand keeps its unique identity via custom UI, tuning, and features, but the tech core is unified.

• At least five Waymo self-driving I-Pace EVs were destroyed during violent protests in Los Angeles over the weekend—representing a possible 5% loss of its local fleet.
  • The unrest followed ICE raids and escalated into clashes with police and vandalism.
  • Rioters reportedly summoned Waymo vehicles, slashed tires, smashed windows, and set them on fire.
  • Fire crews couldn’t access the scene in time, and the vehicles burned completely.
  • Waymo operates about 100 cars in LA and over 1,500 nationwide.
  • Waymo has suspended service in the area, saying, “We will not be serving any rides in the protest area until it is deemed safe,”

• Back-to-school deals have crept into early summer, with brands and retailers scrambling to catch up to shifting consumer habits—and to tariff-driven inventory pressures.
  • Retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Wayfair kicked off fall prep as early as Memorial Day.
  • Prime Day in the middle of July now marks the unofficial start of the back-to-school shopping season.
  • This year’s shoppers are favoring essentials and budget-friendly items over big-ticket dorm splurges
  • “Consumers are looking for the best discount, the best sale, the best value...” — Kassi Socha of Gartner

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/

JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/