The R2 Is Already Rivian’s Top Seller

If there were any doubts about whether drivers would show up for a smaller, more accessible Rivian, the third quarter put them to rest.

According to Rivian’s latest numbers, the all-new R2 has officially taken the crown as the brand’s best-selling model by volume. In its first major sales stretch, the midsize electric SUV outsold both the flagship R1 lineup (the R1T pickup and R1S SUV) as well as Rivian’s commercial delivery vans.

That surge helped push total customer deliveries to 19,248 vehicles for the quarter—a 46 percent jump compared to the same period last year. With the assembly line in Normal, Illinois, finding its rhythm on the new platform, Rivian produced 19,751 vehicles during the three-month stretch.

Because R2 demand and factory output are tracking ahead of expectations, the automaker bumped its full-year delivery guidance up to between 67,000 and 70,000 vehicles, raising the floor from its previous 65,000-unit target.

Why Drivers Are Lining Up

The R2 arrived with a lot of weight on its shoulders. While the full-size R1T and R1S established Rivian as a serious player in the premium off-road EV space, their price tags kept them out of reach for a lot of everyday driveways. The R2 was engineered to deliver that same adventure-ready styling, clever packaging, and outdoor utility in a package that fits normal garages—and more practical budgets.

Early reception has backed that up, with the R2 picking up critical praise out of the gate.

“We had great results with R2 becoming our best selling vehicle by volume in the third quarter," said founder and CEO RJ Scaringe. Customer and media feedback on R2 has been exceptional. Regarding our technology roadmap, our autonomy platform is progressing rapidly, and we are super excited about Point to Point. We are laying the foundations for a future that we believe will be fully electric, autonomous and AI defined. I could not be more excited about the opportunity ahead for Rivian.”

More Tech on the Horizon

Beyond metal and batteries, Rivian is leaning heavily into over-the-air updates to keep recent buyers engaged. The company just pushed out its October software release, which rolled out Gmail integration for its in-cabin AI voice assistant alongside its annual novelty "Halloween Mode."

More significantly, Rivian offered an update on where its driver-assist tech is headed. Current owners running the brand’s Autonomy+ suite—standard hardware on 2025-and-newer R1 and R2 models—already have access to hands-free highway driving. Next up is a supervised system dubbed "Point to Point."

Similar to full-route assistance systems from competitors, Point to Point is designed to navigate from driveway to destination across city streets, intersections, and highway ramps under driver supervision. Rivian plans to start testing the feature with an invite-only early-access group before year’s end, aiming for a wider rollout to Autonomy+ subscribers in 2027. More details on that tech are slated for an autonomy-focused presentation on December 9.

For buyers who put down an early deposit or are simply cross-shopping the crowded midsize electric crossover segment, the message is clear: the R2 ramp is genuinely underway, and it is quickly becoming the face of the brand.