Rivian's R2 Rollout Keeps Deliveries Climbing Despite a Cooling EV Market

Rivian shared its third-quarter production and delivery figures, and the numbers suggest the company’s ramp-up is holding steady even as wider US electric vehicle demand loses momentum.

The automaker built 19,751 vehicles and handed over 19,248 to customers between July and September. That’s a big step up from the second quarter, when it produced 12,613 and delivered 12,194, itself an improvement on the 10,236 built and 10,365 delivered in the opening three months of the year. The quarter-over-quarter jump in deliveries works out to roughly 58%, a surge widely attributed to the arrival of the lower-priced R2. So far, only the pricier Performance trim of the R2 is on sale, with a Premium variant expected later in 2026.

Through three quarters, Rivian has delivered 41,807 vehicles. Management is standing behind its full-year guidance of 65,000 to 70,000 deliveries, which means the fourth quarter would need to account for roughly 23,000 to 28,000 units. One item slipped: Rivian confirmed this week that its Lidar suite won’t reach customers until 2027, later than the late-2026 window it had originally targeted.

The backdrop is far less rosy. EVs have accounted for about 6% to 7% of US light-duty sales this year, a decline from the peak above 10% seen in 2025. The expiration of federal purchase incentives late last year, combined with high interest rates, has cooled the pace of adoption and pushed several legacy automakers to soften their electrification plans. Higher electricity costs tied to AI infrastructure and other pressures haven’t helped, while the Iran War has lifted gasoline prices even further. Rivian is scheduled to report full third-quarter financial results after markets close on October 29, 2026.