Rivian Sets Quarterly Delivery Record As R2 Sales Begin
Rivian delivered 19,248 vehicles in the third quarter, up about 45% from a year earlier, as its more affordable R2 SUV completed its first full quarter of sales.
Rivian delivered a record 19,248 vehicles in the third quarter of 2026, as sales of its new R2 SUV got underway. The electric-vehicle maker also produced 19,751 vehicles during the quarter. Deliveries rose about 45% from a year earlier, while production increased 85%, according to The Verge.
Table of Contents
R2 contributes to a bigger quarter
The quarter was the R2’s first full sales period following its June launch, TechCrunch reported. Rivian did not disclose deliveries by model, so the precise number of R2s sold remains unknown. Both TechCrunch and The Verge described the SUV as an important contributor to the delivery increase, but neither reported a company-issued R2 sales figure for the quarter.
The Verge offered an estimate rather than a confirmed count. It noted that Rivian expects full-year deliveries of its R1 vehicles and electric delivery van to remain flat. If those models’ third-quarter deliveries were roughly unchanged from a year earlier, the outlet calculated, approximately 6,000 of this quarter’s deliveries would have been R2s.
Rivian maintains its annual target
Rivian reaffirmed its forecast of 65,000 to 70,000 vehicle deliveries for 2026, according to The Verge. TechCrunch reported that reaching that range would make this Rivian’s best sales year, after several years of annual sales around 50,000 vehicles. The company is scheduled to release its full third-quarter financial results on October 29.
The outlets described Rivian’s R2 ambitions using different time frames. TechCrunch said the company is aiming to sell 20,000 to 25,000 R2s by the end of this year. The Verge said Rivian has told investors it expects to sell upwards of 25,000 during the vehicle’s first year of production. TechCrunch reported that the R2 currently starts at just under $60,000 and that Rivian plans lower-priced versions costing around $45,000.
A larger bet amid a difficult EV market
The R2 is being built at Rivian’s expanded factory in Normal, Illinois, TechCrunch reported. The outlet also said Rivian is building a factory outside Atlanta, Georgia, that it expects will eventually have capacity for as many as 300,000 vehicles a year. TechCrunch described stronger R2 sales as important to addressing Rivian’s heavy losses and reported that the company has a deal with Uber for robotaxi versions of the SUV.
The Verge placed Rivian’s growth against a weaker broader market. Citing Cox Automotive, it reported that overall EV sales were down nearly 24% year over year as of September 2026. For Rivian, the delivery record shows a strong start for its more affordable model; its undisclosed R2 sales count and full-year results will provide a clearer measure of that launch.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.