Rivian Posts Record Third Quarter as Affordable R2 Drives Surge

Rivian said on October 2, 2026 that it built 19,751 vehicles and delivered 19,248 in the third quarter, up 46% from 13,201 a year earlier and a company record for deliveries. The smaller, more affordable R2 crossover was the main driver, supporting a theme repeated across the industry that well-priced, well-designed models win buyers even as the broader U.S. EV market contracts. Rivian reaffirmed its full-year 2026 delivery guidance of 65,000 to 70,000 vehicles. CNBC noted that hitting the low end would require at least 23,193 fourth-quarter deliveries, up more than 20% from the third quarter. Rivian will release detailed third-quarter results after the U.S. market close on October 29. The result makes Rivian a rare bright spot in a U.S. picture where legacy automakers' EV volumes fell sharply after the federal tax credit lapsed.