Rivian and Giesecke+Devrient Show SGP.32 Is the Key to Single SKU Lifecycle Success

In March 2026, Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) announced it will be providing subscription management services to automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Rivian. G+D will enable 5G connectivity for Rivian’s upcoming R2 model of electric Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), through the use of SGP.32 embedded Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) technology. G+D will not be providing the connectivity itself, but the remote provisioning of the connection for each vehicle. Rivian is based in the United States, and the R2 will be its first vehicle to be officially distributed internationally; earlier models were only available in the United States and Canada. This makes G+D’s partnership with Rivian one of the earliest, and potentially the first, instance of a global automotive launch supported by SGP.32. We say potentially, as it is possible a different auto OEM’s model may launch in the interim—although the official start of production for the Rivian R2 was April 22, 2026, the SUV will not arrive on many international roads until 2027.

It is not G+D’s first SGP.32-related accolade with a top-tier technology company. In October 2025, G+D partnered with Amazon to create the eero Signal, one of the first commercial deployments of SGP.32 in any Internet of Things (IoT) device. The eero Signal is a smart home Wi-Fi router with embedded cellular fallback. The 5G connection is not active by default, but lies dormant, and only becomes live if and when a fixed line connection fails. It is SGP.32 that allows for the automatic recognition of connection loss, activation of the 5G modem, and provisioning of the appropriate wireless carrier’s credentials to connect to a 5G network. The purpose is to enable a seamless handover of connectivity, so that vital smart home services always stay online. The eero uses 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) to save on cost with lower maximum throughput, but the usual 5G low latency. As a consumer electronics device, the use of eSIM and SGP.32 avoided the need for physical Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, and the consequent risk of them being removed and repurposed.

SGP.32 has been specifically designed for IoT use cases. The automotive industry has been making increasing but selective use of SGP.02, the so-called “Machine-to-Machine (M2M)” remote provisioning specification, since 2015. SGP.02 was primarily created with auto OEM use cases in mind. But the superior and more versatile SGP.32 is expected to quickly become the auto OEM’s favored option, especially as improved affordability of cellular data allows embedded connectivity to be offered across more—and less expensive—vehicle models and marques. In G+D’s own words, “This architecture allows Rivian to seamlessly add or change [Mobile Network Operator (MNO)] partners over time as the vehicle expands into new regions, without requiring hardware changes.” SGP.32 is also slated to become the dominant remote provisioning mechanism for all other cellular IoT device types. SGP.02 and the SGP.22 “consumer” specifications were useful in a pinch, but not ideal for IoT devices and use cases.

AT&T will be the network provider for the Rivian R2 in the United States and potentially, through its IoT roaming partners, the rest of the world. But Rivian will be free to choose the most suitable local provider wherever its vehicles end up being sold. The auto OEM will not need to assume in advance how much stock will be sold in which country, and to choose a local partner in each of those countries, for pre-provisioning at the point of manufacture, all the way back at its plant in Normal, Illinois. Rivian can instead allow demand to form organically, acquiring new connectivity partners as and when it needs to. After all, it has never formally sold its vehicles internationally before. Rivian will also be able to switch its carrier partners if needed once initial contracts expire. This is not to say the auto OEM will want to, but the knowledge that it can provides peace of mind for the future, and compels long-term cordial relations between auto OEM and wireless carrier; for both a better business and downstream customer experience.

The ability to 1) have a single Stock Keeping Unit (SKU), and 2) guarantee lifetime connectivity management are the express practical outcomes of employing eSIM, and SGP.32 for remote provisioning. This is true for Rivian, for all other auto OEMs, and all other IoT device manufacturers, period. eSIM is about securing mission-critical business outcomes, and guaranteeing the continuity of service availability. eSIM is not merely about choice and flexibility. And it is definitely not about carrier disintermediation and the creation of a Wild West of connectivity, where enterprises and their customers are free to renege on connectivity agreements at will. “Reliable, high-speed connectivity and open standards are foundational to the modern vehicle experience” says Rivian’s Brandon Blumber. Rivian will be purchasing G+D’s automotive-grade eSIM hardware, as well as its eSIM IoT Remote Manager (eIM) infrastructure. Embedded connectivity has always been foundational to Electric Vehicles (EVs), and Rivian will be using it to provide Over-the-Air (OTA) firmware updates, and customer-facing in-vehicle services, with plans to add future innovations over time.

Rivian only manufactures EVs. Founded in 2009, its first production vehicles came to market in 2021. Rivian currently has three models: a truck (the R1T), an SUV (the R1S), and a delivery van (the EDV). The R2 SUV and another model, the R3 compact SUV, are due for launch in 2026/2027. Rivian vehicles are priced according to battery size and motor configuration, which determines range and performance, and cost between US$80,000 and US$115,000. However, the R2 will have more of a mass market focus, with prices expected to start at US$45,000. Despite early backing from Ford, the only traditional automotive OEM invested in Rivian today is Volkswagen (VW), holding a 12% stake. VW’s June 2024 investment was crucial, bringing financial stability, industry credibility, and long-term strategy. The latter was through a Joint Venture (JV) named Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies (RV Tech), to develop Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) platforms by combining Rivian’s software and VW’s global manufacturing. Simplification is critical to RV Tech, which aims to reduce the cost of EV production to boost competitiveness.

Cloud-based connectivity is one the main developmental areas for RV Tech, alongside automotive Operating Systems (OSs) and Zone Control Units (ZCUs). The latter is for distributing power and data to different parts of a vehicle. Rivian’s decision to choose G+D’s eIM for its new R2 SUV pays testament to the quality of G+Ds system, especially considering the expertise and priorities of Rivian’s sister company, RV Tech. Rivian, like many auto OEMs, is seeking to make EVs more affordable, without sacrificing quality. The trend in EVs has been toward prestige, luxury models to help absorb and hide the underlying costs. But this creates expensive vehicles that ultimately do not help create a high-volume market. The R2’s follow-up, the R3, is expected to be more affordable still. If Western auto OEMs are to stand a chance against Chinese OEMs’ mass production and low pricing, smart connectivity via eSIM will be fundamental to enabling their vehicles’ capabilities, availability, and longevity, empowering intelligent and differentiating features with trusted, reliable, and affordable connectivity.