Written by Rivian Automotive
Rivian Automotive is the American electric vehicle maker behind the R1T pickup, the R1S SUV and the new R2, and it builds them in Normal, Illinois. In this guide you’ll find the 2026 lineup and prices, as well as how Rivian started, who owns it and where it’s headed next.
Rivian Automotive at a Glance
Founded 2009 By RJ Scaringe in Florida
Headquarters Irvine, California Plant in Normal, Illinois
Listing Nasdaq: RIVN Since November 2021
Deliveries, 2025 42,247 Down from 51,579 in 2024
Leadership RJ Scaringe Founder and CEO
Largest shareholders Volkswagen and Amazon About 16% and 12% in 2026
Rivian Automotive Model Lineup
Rivian Automotive sells three passenger models and a delivery van for 2026, and all of them are electric. The prices below are 2026 US base prices before the $1,895 destination fee. In addition, the smaller R3 and R3X were shown in 2024, but Rivian hasn’t given a price or date yet.
Pickup and SUVs (3)
Midsize SUV
R2
Electric Up to 656 hp New for 2026
The R2 is Rivian’s smaller and cheaper SUV, and deliveries began in June 2026. The Performance Launch Edition costs $57,990 and has 656 hp, while every R2 uses an 87.9-kWh battery and a Tesla-style NACS port. Later, a $53,990 Premium and a $48,490 rear-drive model follow, with up to 345 miles of EPA range.
Electric pickup
R1T
Electric 533 to 1,025 hp Up to 371 mi
The R1T was the first fully electric pickup delivered to US buyers, in 2021. For 2026 it starts at $70,990 with two motors, while the 1,025-hp Quad costs much more. EPA range runs from 258 miles to 371 miles in the Tri Max.
Three-row SUV
R1S
Electric Seven seats Up to 1,025 hp
The R1S is a seven-seat SUV built on the same base as the R1T. It starts at $76,990, while the Quad tops the range at $121,990. Meanwhile, the Dual Max version is rated at up to 410 miles of EPA range.
Commercial (1)
Electric delivery van
Commercial Van
Electric 500 and 700 sizes Amazon fleet
Rivian built its delivery van for Amazon, which ordered 100,000 of them in 2019. Since February 2025, any US business can buy one. In fact, Amazon had more than 40,000 in service by August 2026.
What Is Rivian Automotive?
RJ Scaringe founded the company in Florida in 2009 as Mainstream Motors, and he renamed it Rivian in 2011. The name is a play on the Indian River near where he grew up. Then Rivian bought a former Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois, in 2017 for $16 million.
Rivian showed the R1T and R1S in 2018, and Amazon and Ford invested in 2019. After that, the R1T reached buyers in 2021, and the company listed on Nasdaq in November 2021 at a value of about $66.5 billion. However, Ford later sold most of its stake.
Rivian still loses money, and its net loss was $3.6 billion in 2025. As a result, the new R2 matters a lot, because it’s cheaper and should sell in bigger numbers. In addition, Volkswagen has committed up to $5.8 billion through a joint venture, while Uber agreed in 2026 to buy R2 robotaxis.
Rivian Automotive History
Rivian Automotive is young, but it has grown fast since its first deliveries in 2021.
- 2009 RJ Scaringe founds Mainstream Motors in Florida.
- 2011 Then the company is renamed Rivian.
- 2017 Rivian buys the former Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois.
- 2018 The R1T and R1S are revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
- 2019 Amazon leads a $700 million round and orders 100,000 vans, while Ford invests $500 million.
- 2021 R1T deliveries begin, and Rivian lists on Nasdaq in November.
- 2022 Meanwhile, Amazon starts delivering packages in Rivian vans.
- 2023 An R1T wins the 4×4 class of the Rebelle Rally, the first electric vehicle to do so.
- 2024 The R2 and R3 are revealed, and Rivian makes its first gross profit in the fourth quarter.
- 2025 After that, the van goes on sale to all US businesses.
- 2026 Finally, R2 production starts in April, and deliveries begin in June.
Iconic Rivian Models
Rivian Automotive is still young, but these two projects also shaped the brand.
2021
R1T Launch
First electric pickup Truck of the Year
The R1T beat the big truck makers to market, so it became the first electric pickup delivered to US buyers. In addition, it won the MotorTrend Truck of the Year award.
Since 2021
Adventure Network
Fast charging Open to other EVs
Rivian’s fast-charging network was announced in 2021. By mid-2026 it had more than 1,000 charging ports at about 148 US sites, and most of them are open to other EVs.
Who Owns Rivian Automotive?
Rivian Automotive is a public company, and no single shareholder controls it. When AutoGathering has a page for a brand, its name below links to that page.
Public company Rivian Automotive, Inc. Nasdaq: RIVN
This page Rivian Irvine, California · Electric vehicles
Joint venture Rivian and VW Group Technology Software and electronics with Volkswagen
Spin-off Also, Inc. Electric bikes and micromobility
Charging Rivian Adventure Network Fast chargers across the US
Major shareholders and partners
Rivian’s biggest shareholders and partners include two large carmakers.
For example, Volkswagen owned about 15.9% in 2026, while Amazon owned about 12.3%. Ford invested in 2019 but later sold most of its stake.
Earlier names
- Mainstream Motors and Avera Automotive (2009–2011) The company’s first two names, before it became Rivian in 2011.
Rivian Automotive Accomplishments
The record of Rivian Automotive includes awards, sales milestones and a big delivery van fleet.
2022
Truck of the Year
The R1T won the MotorTrend Truck of the Year award for 2022.
207,000+
Vehicles delivered
By the end of September 2026, Rivian had delivered more than 207,000 vehicles in total.
19,248
Record quarter
In fact, Rivian delivered 19,248 vehicles in the third quarter of 2026, a record.
40,000+
Amazon vans
Amazon had more than 40,000 Rivian vans in service by August 2026, and they had covered more than 1 billion miles.
Top Safety Pick+
IIHS rating
The 2023 R1S earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
$170M
First gross profit
Rivian made its first gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2024.
2023
Rebelle Rally win
An R1T won the 4×4 class of the Rebelle Rally, so it became the first EV to do so.
Talk Rivian With Other Owners
Rivian owners have plenty to share, whether it’s an R1T camping trip or a first look at the R2. Soon, AutoGathering will connect this page to a Rivian community space where you can compare models, share charging tips and plan meetups.
- R1T
- R1S
- R2
- R3 and R3X
- Charging and range
- Off-road trips
- Software updates
- Rivian meets and events
Rivian Automotive FAQ
Who owns Rivian Automotive?
Rivian is a public company listed on Nasdaq. Volkswagen Group is the largest shareholder with about 15.9% in 2026, while Amazon owns about 12.3%.
Is Rivian owned by Amazon?
No. Amazon is a major shareholder and the biggest buyer of Rivian vans, but it doesn’t control the company.
Where are Rivians made?
Every Rivian is built in Normal, Illinois. In addition, a second plant in Georgia is under construction, and production there is due in late 2028.
How much is a Rivian?
For 2026, the R2 starts at $57,990, while the R1T starts at $70,990 and the R1S at $76,990. These prices don’t include the $1,895 destination fee.
What does the name Rivian mean?
The name is a play on the Indian River in Florida, near where founder RJ Scaringe grew up.
How far can a Rivian go?
The R1T and R1S are rated from 258 miles to as much as 410 miles of EPA range, depending on the version. Meanwhile, the R2 is rated at up to 345 miles.
When did the Rivian R2 come out?
R2 production started on April 22, 2026, and deliveries began on June 9, 2026. However, the cheaper versions follow later in 2026 and 2027.
Explore More Manufacturers
Compare Rivian with other American and electric brands.
Photo credits
- Header image: Lcaa9, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Green Rivian R2, side and rear view: Lcaa9, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Black Rivian R1T electric pickup at a…: Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Gray 2025 Rivian R1S Ascend Tri Max…: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Rivian EDV-500 electric delivery van in Amazon…: Mliu92, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- White 2022 Rivian R1T pickup: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Rivian Adventure Network fast chargers in Tallahassee,…: The Bushranger, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.