{
  "id": 11444437,
  "title": "Rivian’s R2 just helped it set a new sales record",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/rivians-r2-just-helped-it-set-a-new-sales-record",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-02T13:17:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/02/rivians-r2-just-helped-it-set-a-new-sales-record/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rivian announced on Friday that it sold more electric vehicles in the third quarter than ever before, thanks to the launch of its new, more affordable R2 SUV. The company built 19,751 vehicles and delivered 19,248, marking approximately 45% more deliveries compared to the same period last year. While the exact number of R2 SUVs sold was not disclosed, this marked the first full quarter of sales for the new vehicle, which was introduced in June. Rivian plans to release its full third-quarter financial results on October 29.\n\nThe company is optimistic about the R2's potential, believing it could sell between 20,000 to 25,000 units by the end of the year, making it one of the fastest-selling EVs in U.S. history. This would be second only to Tesla's Model Y. Additionally, Rivian plans to offer cheaper models starting at around $45,000. If these projections come to fruition, Rivian anticipates selling between 65,000 and 70,000 vehicles in total this year, including its existing R1 lineup and commercial electric vans. This would be the company's best sales year ever, as it has previously struggled to surpass 50,000 units sold in recent years.\n\nRivian is currently manufacturing the R2 at its facility in Normal, Illinois, where it recently expanded its production space to accommodate the new SUV. However, the company is also constructing a brand new factory outside Atlanta, Georgia, which is expected to have the capacity to produce up to 300,000 vehicles annually in the near future. Rivian has the option to expand this capacity further in the future. The company's decision to invest in the R2 is driven by the need to address years of heavy losses, largely due to the expensive infrastructure required to support a mass-market vehicle. Furthermore, Rivian has partnered with Uber to develop robotaxi versions of the R2 SUV, recognizing the significant potential market for autonomous vehicles. In March, Rivian adjusted its profitability goal from 2027 to a later date to allocate more resources towards autonomy.",
  "summary": "Deliveries jumped roughly 45% compared to the same quarter last year, with Rivian delivering more than 19,000 EVs.",
  "key_points": [
    "Rivian sold 19,248 R2 SUVs in Q3, a 45% increase from same period last year",
    "Rivian aims to produce 65,000-70,000 vehicles this year, best sales year ever for the company"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}