Rivian Automotive raised its 2026 delivery outlook Thursday after beating second-quarter expectations, delivering 12,194 vehicles against guidance of 9,000 to 11,000 units, signaling momentum as the automaker ramps production of its newly launched R2 SUV.
The Irvine, California-based electric vehicle maker now expects 2026 deliveries between 65,000 and 70,000 vehicles, up from its earlier forecast of 62,000 to 67,000, according to Reuters. The company attributed the Q2 beat to robust demand for its electric delivery vans and R1 SUVs and pickup trucks, coupled with the start of R2 customer deliveries in June.
Q2 deliveries rose 14 percent from the 10,365 vehicles delivered in the first quarter, when Rivian had beaten consensus estimates but recorded no R2 volume. The second-quarter results exceeded Wall Street expectations; Visible Alpha data showed analysts had forecast 10,518 deliveries, while fifteen analysts polled by Visible Alpha estimate the company will deliver 63,138 vehicles for the full year.
The R2, which launched customer deliveries on June 9, is central to Rivian’s growth strategy. The Performance trim starts at $57,990, with a Premium variant priced at $53,990 arriving in late 2026 and a Standard model at $48,490 expected in early 2027. Rivian has teased an even more affordable $45,000 variant slated for late 2027, positioning the R2 to compete with Tesla’s best-selling Model Y.
The company expects to deliver roughly 20,000 to 25,000 R2 units in 2026, accounting for a significant portion of its revised full-year target. To hit the midpoint of its new guidance, Rivian will need to deliver about 45,000 more vehicles in the second half of 2026.
Rivian’s execution comes despite affordability headwinds from the expiration of federal EV tax credits last year. In March, Uber announced it would invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian as part of a deal to deploy 10,000 fully autonomous R2 SUVs as robotaxis starting in 2028, adding another pillar to the company’s long-term demand outlook.
Sources
- Reuters — Rivian’s raised 2026 delivery guidance, Q2 deliveries, R2 pricing and features, Uber investment deal
- Stock Titan — Q2 production and delivery figures beating outlook
- Las Vegas Sun — Q2 deliveries and full-year guidance raise
- Intellectia AI — Q2 delivery beat details
- Rivian Stories — R2 launch date and trim availability
- TechCrunch — R2 launch and pricing roadmap
- Spokesman-Review — R2 Performance trim starting price
- Los Angeles Times — R2 eventual $45,000 pricing target
