2 minutes readRivian Launches Mind Robotics to Drive Industrial AI and Automation Innovation

Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has unveiled its second spin-off of the year — an industrial AI and robotics startup called Mind Robotics. According to Rivian’s third-quarter shareholder letter, the new venture aims to use industrial artificial intelligence to transform how physical world businesses operate, leveraging Rivian’s manufacturing data as a foundation for a “robotics data flywheel.”

While the company offered few concrete details, CEO RJ Scaringe explained during an investor call that the idea grew from Rivian’s internal efforts to make its manufacturing plants more efficient through robotics and automation. Scaringe will serve as chairman of Mind Robotics’ board, and Rivian remains a key shareholder in the new venture.

Scaringe described the creation of Mind Robotics as a major step in harnessing AI’s vast potential to revolutionize industrial operations. He noted that while AI has already reshaped digital business functions through large language models, the opportunity to apply it to physical industries is “unimaginably large.” The company has already secured a $115 million seed funding round led by venture capital firm Eclipse, whose partner Jiten Behl — a former Rivian executive — confirmed the investment in a LinkedIn post. The funding signals strong investor confidence in Mind Robotics’ long-term vision of redefining industrial automation through advanced AI-driven systems.

This marks the second spin-off Rivian has launched in 2025. Earlier in March, the automaker created Also Inc., a micromobility startup originating from Rivian’s internal innovation lab. That venture was also backed by Eclipse and Greenoaks Capital.

While Rivian declined to confirm whether any of its employees are transferring to Mind Robotics, the company hinted at such possibilities in its shareholder letter, emphasizing its “strong bench of technology talent” and “innovation-driven culture” as core assets enabling broader mission growth beyond electric vehicles.

The move positions Rivian within a growing global race to develop industrial robotics and AI solutions. Tesla, General Motors, and several startups are simultaneously investing in humanoid robotics and automated manufacturing tools.

However, little public information currently exists about Mind Robotics’ specific projects or products, aside from a broad trademark filing suggesting possible applications across machinery, vehicles, and even “incubators for eggs.” Despite the ambiguity, the launch underscores Rivian’s ambition to expand beyond electric vehicles into frontier technologies that could define the next wave of industrial transformation