Today Rivian released its third-quarter production and delivery report, showing that the company sold 45 percent more vehicles than it did in the same period last year, while building 85 percent more. The report detailed 19,751 vehicles produced and 19,248 delivered. In an industry where deliveries often serve as a proxy for sales, particularly for a direct-to-consumer automaker like Rivian, these numbers reflect a notable step forward.
Rivian’s R2 is doing most of the heavy lifting for the company’s growth. The automaker has placed a big wager on its more affordable model, and initial results indicate that bet is starting to pay off. Now the company is standing behind its full-year 2026 forecast, projecting deliveries of 65,000 to 70,000 vehicles.
The Numbers Behind the Pop
Rivian’s quarterly numbers are striking. The 85 percent year-over-year increase in production and the 45 percent jump in deliveries both point in the same direction: demand for Rivian’s vehicles is up. The company delivered 19,248 vehicles in the quarter, which compares to 13,000 in the third quarter of last year.
Last year’s third quarter saw Rivian deliver more than 13,000 vehicles, and if deliveries of the R1 and van stayed constant, that would mean roughly 6,000 R2 vehicles were handed over to customers this quarter alone. That represents a solid beginning for a fresh model.
What the R2 Means for Rivian
The R2 needed to be a hit for Rivian to survive as an independent company. As Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe told us earlier this year: “R2 is the most important thing we have because it’s what takes us from being subscale to being a scaled manufacturer.”
Rivian has told investors it plans to sell more than 25,000 R2s in its first year of production. Should that come to pass, it would rank the R2 among the quickest launches of a new electric vehicle in US history. The company does not separate sales by model, so the precise breakdown of R1, van and R2 deliveries remains undisclosed. What is known is that the R2’s momentum is unmistakable.
The Struggling Industry Context
A year after President Trump and Republicans in Congress ended the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, broader EV sales have fallen hard. Rivian’s own sales growth stands apart from that trend. According to Cox Automotive, as of September 2026, overall EV sales were down nearly 24 percent year-over-year.
Rivian is expanding even as the market around it contracts. Tesla has just posted a 2.1 percent drop in Q3 sales, which was still better than analysts anticipated. That makes Rivian’s growth all the more striking by comparison.
Flat Lines Elsewhere
Rivian isn’t seeing growth across every product line. The company expects its R1 lineup — the R1T truck and R1S SUV — along with its electric delivery van, to deliver the same number of units they did last year. So the increase in deliveries is happening with the R2 instead.
The divide holds real weight for how the company moves forward. Rivian is turning its attention toward models built for bigger volumes, and the R2 sits right at the center of that change. The R1 line and the vans are steady ground, but neither of them is growing.
Climate Goal Reached Early
The sales report comes amid a string of good news for Rivian. The company recently announced that the R2 hit its climate goal of reducing its lifetime emissions by 50 percent four years ahead of schedule. That achievement adds to the positive momentum around the R2.
What the Guidance Says
Rivian’s reaffirmed guidance for 65,000 to 70,000 deliveries in 2026 shows confidence in the R2’s ability to drive volume. The company is betting that the more affordable vehicle will attract buyers who might have skipped the pricier R1.
| Metric | Third Quarter 2025 | Third Quarter 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles produced | Not stated | 19,751 (+85%) |
| Vehicles delivered | 13,000 | 19,248 (+45%) |
| R2 deliveries (estimated) | Not stated | ~6,000 |
The Road Ahead
Rivian’s path is not without risk. The company still faces pressure from the broader EV market, and the elimination of the tax credit has hit the industry hard. Rivian’s own guidance assumes sustained demand for the R2, and meeting that target will require consistent execution.
The firm has placed its wager on the R2, and the preliminary returns back up that call. It is not yet known whether Rivian can keep this pace going for the rest of the year and into 2026. For now, though, the figures read well.
Rivian’s R2 is doing better on both fronts than it was last year: sales are up 45 percent, and production is up 85 percent. Those two numbers make up the whole story, and they tell a positive tale for the company.
Source material: “Rivian’s sales pop as the company’s big R2 bet starts to pay off,” The Verge.
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