Arrival Navigates Headwinds in the EV Market

Who's Saving the Planet?

Prior to becoming the President and Chief Strategy Officer of Arrival, Avinash Rugoobur, led General Motor's billion dollar acquisition of autonomous driving company Cruise. Understanding frontier technology in the world of automotive advancement is squarely in his wheelhouse, which is why it created quite a stir when he left Cruise in 2020 for the startup electric bus company, Arrival.

Since he joined, they've been on a roller coaster of valuations and product launches. In 2021 Arrival went public through a SPAC, listing at a $13 billion valuation. Today the valuation is less than down 97%, to under $300 million. But, where there's a will there's a way, and Avinash is in it for the long term. We touch on the future of the electric vehicle industry, the need for innovation on a scale to equal the threat of climate change, and not the least, what working in a chocolate factor can teach you about running an billion dollar car manufacturer.

Note: This interview was recorded in May of 2022.