Rivian has pulled off an impressive turnaround in the American electric vehicle market, climbing from tenth to second place among EV brands in just one year. According to the latest sales estimates from Cox Automotive, the company now trails only Tesla.
What makes this achievement particularly notable is that Rivian is growing during a time when many established automakers are struggling to maintain momentum.
The company sold 19,239 vehicles during the third quarter of 2026, representing a 45.7% increase over the same period last year. Its year-to-date sales reached 41,009 vehicles, up 26.8%.
The arrival of the new R2 SUV and surging sales of Rivian’s electric delivery vans have helped drive that growth. Meanwhile, demand for the company’s original R1 models has declined.
Rivian Overtakes Some Major Automakers
Cox Automotive‘s figures place Rivian ahead of Hyundai and Chevrolet in individual-brand EV sales for the first nine months of 2026. Hyundai recorded 39,121 sales, while Chevrolet managed 38,298.
Tesla is still comfortably ahead with 386,194 vehicles sold during the same period. Rivian’s second-place ranking also comes with an important distinction: General Motors sells EVs through several brands, including Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC, whose combined totals exceed Rivian’s.
Still, Rivian’s performance stands out when considering that US electric vehicle sales fell 30.3% year over year during the first three quarters of 2026.
The New R2 Is Already Making An Impact
The Rivian R2 recorded 3,456 sales during its first quarter on the market. That’s an encouraging start considering only the more expensive Performance version is currently available.
Priced from $57,990, the R2 Performance sits above the upcoming Premium and Standard variants. Those less expensive versions could help Rivian reach a wider audience as production and availability expand.
However, Rivian’s established passenger vehicles haven’t enjoyed the same momentum. Third-quarter sales of the R1S fell 31.8% to 5,582 units, while the R1T dropped 27.2% to 1,732.
Electric Delivery Vans Are The Real Surprise
Rivian’s commercial vehicles delivered the biggest growth story of the quarter. Its EDV 500 and EDV 700 electric vans recorded 8,469 sales, an extraordinary 220.9% increase compared with a year earlier.
That means the delivery vans accounted for roughly 44% of Rivian’s third-quarter volume. They also outsold the R2, showing how important commercial customers have become to the company’s business.
Tesla Is Still Far Ahead
Rivian’s rapid rise doesn’t mean Tesla’s dominance is under immediate threat. Tesla sold more than nine times as many EVs as Rivian during the first nine months of 2026.
Nevertheless, Rivian has achieved something significant in a difficult market. With more affordable R2 variants on the way and strong demand for its electric vans, the company has an opportunity to build on its newfound position.