Former Rivian exec says ‘Every car company will become a robotics company’

Jiten Behl, a partner at Eclipse Ventures and the former chief growth officer of Rivian, believes that the United States is on the brink of a significant re-industrialization. He envisions a future where manufacturing facilities are dominated by AI-driven robots rather than relying on inexpensive labor from abroad. Having played a pivotal role in transforming Rivian from a concept in a conference room in 2015 to a publicly traded electric vehicle manufacturer, Behl is now channeling his investments into a new generation of industrial and mobility startups. This includes companies that have spun out from Rivian, such as Also and Mind Robotics. Eclipse Ventures is making a bold wager that the industrial sector is poised for a transformation similar to that experienced by the software industry a decade ago. In a recent episode of TechCrunch's Equity podcast, host Kirsten Korosec engages Behl in a discussion about Rivian's strategy of creating new ventures, the unique requirements for founders in the physical sector, and the critical role that automation will play in enhancing the U.S.'s competitive edge against Chinese supply chains. To delve deeper into these insights, listeners can tune into the full episode and subscribe to Equity on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, and more. You can also connect with Equity on social media platforms like X and Threads at @EquityPod.