Rivian's sales surge as the new R2 model delivers early results
EV maker Rivian reported a sharp rise in third-quarter production and deliveries, driven by its new, more affordable R2 model. The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance even as the broader US EV market continues to decline.
Electric vehicle maker Rivian has reported third-quarter results showing 19,751 vehicles produced and 19,248 delivered, marking an 85 percent year-over-year increase in production and a 45 percent jump in deliveries. Since Rivian sells directly to consumers, delivery figures are treated as a stand-in for sales.
The company also reaffirmed its previously stated 2026 full-year guidance, expecting to deliver between 65,000 and 70,000 vehicles. The main driver behind this growth is the new, more affordable R2 model, which Rivian's leadership considers critical to the company's survival as an independent manufacturer.
Growth against a declining market
Rivian's performance stands out against a broader downturn in the US electric vehicle market. A year after President Trump and congressional Republicans eliminated the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, industry-wide sales had fallen by nearly 24 percent year-over-year as of September 2026, according to Cox Automotive. Tesla also recently reported a 2.1 percent sales decline for the third quarter, though that figure beat expectations.
Rivian has told investors it expects to sell more than 25,000 R2 units in its first year of production, which would rank among the fastest launches of a new electric vehicle in US history. The company does not break down sales by model, but expects deliveries of its R1 lineup — the R1T truck and R1S SUV — and its electric delivery van to remain flat for the year. Given that Rivian delivered more than 13,000 vehicles in the third quarter of last year, it can be estimated that around 6,000 of this quarter's deliveries were R2 vehicles.
The sales report adds to a string of positive news for the company. Rivian recently announced that the R2 had already achieved its goal of cutting lifetime emissions by 50 percent, four years ahead of schedule.
