Rivian's R2 SUV Becomes Best-Selling Model, Boosting Delivery Outlook

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Rivian's newly launched R2 SUV quickly became its top-selling vehicle in Q3, prompting the company to raise its 2026 delivery forecast amid growing demand despite the loss of federal EV tax credits.

Rivian has announced that its recently launched R2 SUV has already become the company's best-selling vehicle during the third quarter of 2026. Though Rivian did not disclose exact sales numbers for the R2, the early market reception was strong enough to lead the electric vehicle maker to raise its delivery guidance for the year. Initially expecting to deliver between 65,000 and 70,000 vehicles, Rivian increased the lower end of that range to 67,000, marking the second upward revision in 2026.

This improved outlook suggests Rivian is on course to surpass previous production bottlenecks that limited annual deliveries to around 50,000 vehicles in prior years. The R2, introduced in June, represents a strategic push to scale production of a more affordable SUV variant at an accelerated pace. The company attributed much of the quarterly delivery growth to the R2's success, supported by ramped-up manufacturing shifts at its Normal, Illinois facility.

Rivian's latest figures report building 19,751 vehicles and delivering 19,248 in Q3, a 45% increase over the same period last year and a significant rise from Q2's deliveries of approximately 12,000 units. Despite losing the $7,500 federal EV tax credit last year, which led many automakers to focus more on combustion and hybrid vehicles, Rivian appears to be attracting new customers with the competitively priced R2 model.

The starting price for the R2 is just under $60,000, with plans to release a more affordable "premium" trim later in 2026 starting at $53,990. Even lower-priced versions, beginning at $44,990, are scheduled for availability in 2027. Rivian highlighted the R2 as a well-priced option for consumers seeking quality electric vehicles suited for everyday use, anticipating it will significantly contribute to the company's long-term growth and profitability.

Financially, Rivian reported $2.2 billion in revenue for Q3 but still recorded a net loss of $913 million, an improvement from the $1.2 billion loss during the same quarter in the previous year. The company continues its rapid production scaling efforts and solidifying its position in the electric SUV market with the R2 as a central pillar moving forward.