A record sales quarter suggests Rivian's newest vehicle is having a noticeable impact.
For the three months ended Sept. 30, Rivian delivered 19,248 vehicles, a company high, up 45% from the same period last year.
Here's what to know
In its quarterly update, Rivian published the latest figures, and InsideEVs said the R2 likely drove much of the growth after customer deliveries started in June.
For the quarter ending Sept. 30, the company reported producing 19,751 vehicles and delivering 19,248. In the third quarter last year, Rivian recorded 13,201 deliveries, as InsideEVs noted.
The outlet added that Rivian does not provide model-by-model sales across its four-vehicle lineup, but the timing suggests the R2 drove much of the increase because customer deliveries of that model began in June.
More background
That lines up with how Rivian has framed the R2 within its lineup. According to InsideEVs, when the company first gave guidance for 62,000 to 67,000 vehicles, its chief financial officer said the increase over the prior year's roughly 42,000 deliveries would come from the R2.
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For a brand better known for premium electric trucks and SUVs, the R2 represents a different opportunity. The publication described it as Rivian's first vehicle with the potential for mass-market success.
Commenters on InsideEVs debated what the numbers meant. One skeptic cited the company's debt and what they claimed to be an underutilized production plant as putting the automaker in a "precarious position."
Others vehemently disagreed with that framing, especially given the improving sales numbers.
"With the success of their delivery vans and software, they built a cushion and now are moving toward profitability," a user countered, with others specifically citing long-term contracts with Volkswagen, Amazon, and Uber along those lines.
"It looks like they're hitting their stride selling lots of EVs under an EV-unfriendly administration against serious competition," another commenter added.
What's being done?
After increasing its full-year delivery target from 62,000-67,000 vehicles to 65,000-70,000, Rivian said with this quarter's results that it still expects to finish within that range.
In its announcement, Rivian said it will share its third-quarter 2026 financial results on October 29. That same day, the company plans to host a live webcast to analyze the results and the company's outlook.
That webcast could add more insight into the rollout of the R2, as well as the overall health of the brand.
Where can I learn more?
Rivian's delivery surge is part of a bigger story about the R2 and the company's next phase of growth.
• Earlier this year, Rivian exceeded expectations while narrowing first-quarter losses and boosting confidence.
• In Georgia, Rivian advanced next-generation vehicle expansion plans to raise future production capacity.
• Rivian positioned the R2's standard features to attract buyers beyond its premium lineup.
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