Rivian Jumps From 10th to 2nd in U.S. EV Sales in One Year

Sometimes, it only takes one model to completely transform an automaker and take it mainstream. For Tesla, that car was the Model 3 sedan, and a new EV sales report from the U.S. suggests that the R2 could do the same for Rivian. A year ago, Rivian was the 10th best-selling EV automaker in Q3 and ranked eighth in year-to-date sales. In 2026, Rivian has overtaken every other brand but Tesla and now ranks second for EV sales in the United States. The new R2—which doesn’t even have a full lineup available yet—is one of the key models driving this meteoric rise for Rivian.

Rivian Surges To Number 2

For over a year, General Motors has prided itself on being number 2 in EV sales in the USA. While that’s technically true, this achievement includes combined EV sales of all GM brands, including Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac. Once you break the numbers down by individual automakers, the picture changes. Rivian is officially the number 2 EV brand in America, based on Q3 2026 sales and 2026 year-to-date sales. Here’s a look at the latest sales figures from Cox Automotive.

While most brands have seen a decline in EV sales in 2026, Rivian isn’t one of them. Its sales increased by 45.7% in Q3 and 26.8% across the first three quarters. With 41,009 vehicles sold in 2026 so far, Rivian has overtaken the likes of Hyundai (39,121) and Chevrolet (38,298), both of which have a broader and much more affordable range of EVs. 

Rivian is still far behind Tesla, which has sold 386,194 vehicles so far in 2026.

Related: The Rivian R2 Is Packed With Great Features, But These Are The Best

R2 and Electric Vans Had A Great Q3

In its first quarter on sale, the Rivian R2 sold 3,456 units. That’s an impressive start, given that only the pricier Performance trim is currently available. It starts at $57,990, which is $4,000 more than the Premium (arrives late in 2026) and $13,000 more than the Standard (arrives in spring 2027).

For some perspective, the R2 outsold other compact electric crossovers like the Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4, Volvo EX40, and Subaru Solterra. With the arrival of cheaper trims, we can expect sales to increase significantly.

The R2’s sales made up for declines for the R1S and R1T, which sold 5,582 and 1,732 units in Q3, respectively. Those models were down by 31.8% and 27.2% last quarter. 

So, where did Rivian’s other sales come from? The EDV 500 and 700 delivery vans sold 8,469 units combined in Q3, a remarkable increase of 220.9%. For the year so far, Rivian has sold over 15,000 of these vans.

Related: Rivian Upgrades Its Amazon Delivery Vans With 30% More Range and AWD

What It Means

To meet its annual target of 65,000 to 70,000 deliveries, Rivian will need to sell over 23,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter. The strong performance of its electric vans and the arrival of the cheaper R2 Premium will be crucial if the automaker wants to achieve that. Moreover, Rivian has defied industry trends this year. Total EV sales are down by 30% across the first three quarters, but Rivian has gone in the other direction. Catching Tesla is another story, but Rivian has avoided the fate of many EV startups like Fisker and Lordstown. Those brands filed for bankruptcy before they could make an impact, but Rivian appears to be here to stay.

Related: Rivian CEO Says R3 Will Be Cheaper Than R2, R4 Cheaper Still