Rivian delivered 19,248 vehicles in the third quarter of 2026 and built 19,751 at its Normal, Illinois plant. That’s right in line with its outlook, and it’s keeping full-year guidance at 65,000 to 70,000 deliveries.
That’s a 58% jump from Q2’s 12,194, which was the quarter R2 handoffs started and Rivian blew past its own guidance. It’s also up about 46% from Q3 2025’s 13,201. Last year’s number got a boost from buyers rushing to claim the federal tax credit before it expired, and this year nothing like that is pulling demand forward. Most of this growth points straight to R2 coming off the line in volume.
It’s also the most vehicles Rivian has ever delivered in a single quarter.
Add up 2026 so far and Rivian is at 41,807 deliveries. That’s just 440 short of everything it delivered in all of 2025.
To hit guidance, Q4 needs somewhere between 23,200 and 28,200 deliveries. That sounds like a big step on paper. Back in July, though, Rivian told investors it expected a second R2 shift running by the end of Q3 and deliveries weighted toward the fourth quarter, and an “in line” Q3 suggests that plan is on track. Production also outpaced deliveries by about 500 units this quarter, which gives it a little cushion heading into the final stretch.
The full financials land October 29 after market close, with the webcast at 5:00 p.m. ET. I’m most interested in whether R2 is moving toward the positive gross profit Rivian targeted for its 2026 exit rate, since volume only helps if each R2 gets cheaper to build.
Rivian has gotten R2 into owners’ hands faster than a lot of people expected, mine included, and I expect Q4 to land in the upper half of that range. I’ll break it all down for you after the call.
If a significant number of deliveries are anything like mine, the numbers are inflated at the cost of poor delivery decisions and customer experience. Free delivery with third party, overnighting registration docs after delivery (even legal?), no spare tire or accessories so those will require shipping or mobile service. Can’t add vehicle to the app. Can’t contact delivery team. Unfortunately another typical rivian customer experience.
You can ignore that comment above Jose. That’s a short. The tell is, “legal?”
Very wrong. This is my 5th Rivian and I hold stock. Don’t feel great about, but I hold it.
Interestingly, the best delivery experience was the first one, which I guess makes sense because presumably management wanted owners to feel well treated still then.
Huh. Typical Rivian experience and you’ve bought 5??? Fool me once…
Absolutely agree. Trying to support a company and product, be a part of the solution, rather than just complain. Holding stock I obviously want them to succeed. The expense Rivian took to deliver my vehicle by end of quarter took thousands out of any margin, and they did a poor job while at it.
The vehicles are superior to most competitors I would consider. That doesn’t exclude me the ability or opportunity to call out issues that still need improvement. Or conveying my disappointment that quarter end delivery reports are more important to Rivian than producing and delivering the best quality product possible, when it is ready. Yes, standard public company behavior – indeed shame on me for hoping Rivian could be different and capitalize on consumer yearning for a different auto manufacturer experience. The road they have chosen feels the same as legacy auto and Tesla.
This is excellent news, I need to convince the wife to buy.
Got mine the end of July…it was a great experience, not a single issue with the car and it’s even better than my tesla s was