PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Accessing software talent was behind the decision of Rivian Automotive Inc. to move its headquarters from here to California, and that software now is what’s contributing to more affordable vehicles, market appeal and at least one multibillion-dollar deal with a legacy competitor, CEO RJ Scaringe said Monday.

The Irvine-based EV maker is facing some challenges as it looks forward to launching in the first half of next year its smaller R2 SUV set to start at $45,000. The federal tax credit for plug-in vehicles expired last week. President Donald Trump has increased tariffs on countries like South Korea from which Rivian gets batteries. Automakers producing lower-cost gas-powered vehicles won’t face the penalties they once did under regulatory rollbacks on greenho

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