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Rivian Lays Off Hundreds as R2 Launch Moves Ahead

Rivian said it would lay off hundreds of workers, or less than 2% of its workforce, as it works to profitably scale with the R2. The move follows the R2 launch and prior layoffs, underscoring a push toward profitability.

Rivian service center and vehicles as the company shifts toward profitability with the R2 launch, April 30, 2026.
Rivian service center and vehicles as the company shifts toward profitability with the R2 launch, April 30, 2026.

Market impact

Rivian’s workforce reduction accompanies the R2 launch and ongoing loss-reduction efforts, reflecting restructuring aimed at narrowing losses while scaling profitability.

Why it matters: The layoffs illustrate Rivian’s strategic pivot to scale profitability through the R2 in a competitive EV market, impacting employment, production cadence, and investor sentiment.

Key numbers

  • 15,232 employees end of last year
  • $3.6 billion loss last year
  • 42,247 vehicles delivered last year
  • 6,000 per vehicle first-quarter automotive loss
  • more than 600 layoffs in October (4.5% of workforce)

Watch next

  • R2 delivery cadence
  • Rivian profitability trajectory
  • regulatory incentives for EVs
  • industry demand for EVs
Automotive Technology Rivian

Rivian on Tuesday confirmed it is laying off hundreds of workers, accounting for less than 2% of its global workforce, as the EV maker aims to narrow its losses ahead of fuller R2-scale production. The cuts affect teams within the service and customer segments, a company spokesperson said, with Rivian employing about 15,232 people across North America and Europe at the end of last year.

The layoffs come a week after Rivian officially began deliveries of its new R2 SUV, a model the company has positioned as a bridge from niche luxury EVs toward a more mainstream lineup. Rivian reiterated that it expects to reach profitability with the R2, though it has not turned an annual profit in its history. In 2025, Rivian reported a $3.6 billion loss while delivering 42,247 vehicles, according to company filings. The first quarter of this year also showed a per-vehicle loss of about $6,000 for Rivian’s automotive segment.

Rivian noted that the restructuring involved a handful of teams as part of its broader effort to scale profits while maintaining growth. The move follows earlier rounds of layoffs; in October the company cut more than 600 positions, roughly 4.5% of its workforce, largely in marketing, vehicle operations, and sales/delivery and mobile operations.

The company has cited the R2 as central to its path to profitability, even as industry-wide headwinds for EV makers persist. Rivian’s update comes amid a market environment where policy and regulatory changes, including the insulation of federal incentives, continue to shape the economics of EV adoption.

Rivian’s layoffs were first reported by The Wall Street Journal, and the company did not provide an updated timeline for the R2’s broader production pace. CNBC and other outlets have covered Rivian’s ongoing efforts to translate product launches into sustainable profitability.