Rivian stated on Thursday that its new R2 SUV has become the company's best-selling model in the third quarter, marking a positive start for this crucial electric vehicle.

Rivian did not provide specific sales figures for the quarter R2, but the company is confident about its sales momentum, hence it has raised its delivery targets for Wall Street investors. Rivian Previously, the company estimated that this year's deliveries would be between 65,000 and 70,000 units. On Thursday, the company raised the lower end of this range to 67,000 units.

This is the second time this year that Rivian has raised its delivery targets. The company is now on track to break a three-year deadlock – during which time, its annual delivery volume has struggled to exceed 50,000 units. Rivian was launched in June of this year, but the company has already bet on expanding the production of this low-cost SUV at a faster pace than in history.

The early success of R2 also indicates that, despite losing a $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax credit last year, Rivian continues to attract new customers. With the cancellation of this tax credit and adjustments to U.S. regulatory policies by the Trump administration to support the growth of electric vehicles, many large automakers have shifted their focus back to internal combustion engine and hybrid models, which has also created market space for pure electric vehicle companies such as Tesla and Rivian.

In a letter sent to shareholders on Thursday, the company stated: "In the absence of high-quality electric vehicle options in the US automotive market, R2 is a model with an attractive pricing and suitable for daily commuting and exploration, and it is resonating widely among consumers. We expect it to become a transformative product that will drive the long-term growth and profitability of Rivian."

Rivian disclosed earlier this month that in the third quarter, the company produced 19,751 vehicles and delivered 19,248 vehicles. This figure is approximately 45% higher compared to the same period last year; in the second quarter of 2026, the company produced 12,613 vehicles and delivered 12,194 vehicles. The growth is largely due to the company launching a second shift of production at its plant in Normal, Illinois.

Rivian stated on Thursday that R2 'contributed a large part to the quarter-on-quarter growth', but no specific details were provided. The company's revenue for the third quarter was 2.2 billion US dollars, with a net loss of 913 million US dollars; in contrast, the net loss for the same period last year was 1.2 billion US dollars.

Rivian has set a starting price of slightly less than $60,000 for R2. The company stated that a more affordable "high-end" version is expected to be launched later this year, with a starting price of $53,990. A cheaper version is planned to be released in 2027, with a minimum price of as low as $44,990.