Rivian has climbed to second place among electric vehicle brands in the United States, overtaking established automakers as sales of its new R2 SUV and electric delivery vans gain momentum. The company recorded 45.7% sales growth in the third quarter of 2026 and has sold 41,009 vehicles year to date, trailing only Tesla among individual EV brands in the U.S. market.
Rivian Ranks Second in U.S. EV Sales
Rivian’s rise marks a significant shift in the U.S. electric vehicle market. A year earlier, the automaker ranked 10th in EV sales during the third quarter and eighth in year-to-date sales. By the third quarter of 2026, it had moved ahead of every individual brand except Tesla.
General Motors has spent more than a year highlighting its position as the country’s second-largest seller of electric vehicles. However, that ranking combines sales across Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac. When sales are measured by individual automaker, Rivian ranks No. 2 based on both third-quarter and year-to-date figures for 2026.
Rivian has also bucked a broader market slowdown. Its sales rose 45.7% in the third quarter and 26.8% over the first three quarters of the year.
The company has sold 41,009 vehicles so far in 2026, surpassing Hyundai, which recorded 39,121 sales, and Chevrolet, with 38,298. Both competitors offer broader EV lineups that include more affordable models.
Despite its gains, Rivian remains well behind Tesla, which has sold 386,194 vehicles in the United States so far this year.
Rivian R2 Delivers a Strong First Quarter
The new Rivian R2 has become an important contributor to the automaker’s growth. During its first quarter on sale, the electric SUV recorded 3,456 deliveries, even though only its more expensive Performance trim is currently available.
The R2 Performance starts at $57,990. That is $4,000 more than the Premium trim, scheduled to arrive in late 2026, and $13,000 more than the Standard version, which is expected in spring 2027.
Even with the limited lineup, the R2 outsold several other compact electric crossovers during the period, including the Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4, Volvo EX40 and Subaru Solterra.
The arrival of the less expensive Premium and Standard versions could provide additional support for R2 sales. For now, the Performance model is the only version available to buyers.
R2 Growth Offsets Declines in R1S and R1T Sales
The R2’s early results helped offset weaker sales of Rivian’s established R1 models. The company sold 5,582 R1S SUVs and 1,732 R1T pickups in the third quarter of 2026.
Those figures represented declines of 31.8% for the R1S and 27.2% for the R1T compared with the previous quarter. The R2’s contribution helped balance those declines as Rivian expanded its sales mix.
Electric Delivery Vans Post Major Sales Increase
Rivian’s commercial vehicles provided another major source of growth. The EDV 500 and EDV 700 electric delivery vans recorded combined third-quarter sales of 8,469 units, an increase of 220.9%.
For the year to date, Rivian has sold more than 15,000 electric delivery vans. Their strong performance has become an important part of the company’s overall sales results alongside the new R2.
Rivian Faces a Challenge to Meet Its 2026 Target
Rivian has set an annual delivery target of 65,000 to 70,000 vehicles. To reach that range, the automaker will need to deliver more than 23,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter.
Continued demand for its electric delivery vans and the launch of the more affordable R2 Premium will be important factors in reaching that goal. The company will need to sustain its recent momentum as it enters the final quarter of the year.
Rivian’s performance also contrasts with the wider EV market. Total electric vehicle sales fell 30% across the first three quarters of 2026, while Rivian’s sales increased.
Although Tesla remains far ahead, Rivian has moved into second place among U.S. EV brands and avoided the outcome faced by startups such as Fisker and Lordstown, which filed for bankruptcy before making a lasting impact. Its latest sales figures show the company gaining ground in a market where many electric vehicle brands are struggling.
