The U.S. electric vehicle market faced a challenging year as 2025 concluded. Slower sales and policy shifts impacted major players, including Rivian, Tesla, and Lucid.
Rivian navigated uneven vehicle deliveries throughout the year. The company focused intensely on scaling production and controlling costs ahead of its next vehicle launch.
Crucially, Rivian broke ground on a new factory in Georgia. This facility is essential for manufacturing the upcoming, lower-priced R2 crossover.
Despite the tough market, Rivian pushed forward with new initiatives. These included implementing a new CEO compensation plan tied to performance goals. The company also introduced hands-free driving technology utilizing LiDAR.
The broader EV sector reflects a transition, with traditional automakers scaling back their own electric vehicle plans. Rivian’s focus moving into 2026 remains on achieving production scale and managing costs effectively within this shifting landscape.