New York, January 5, 2026, 08:38 EST — Premarket
- Rivian shares were slightly higher in premarket trading after a volatile first session of the new year.
- Investors are weighing a soft annual delivery tally and the pressure on demand for higher-priced EVs.
- CES this week and Rivian’s Feb. 12 results are the next near-term catalysts.
Rivian Automotive shares (RIVN.O) were up about 0.3% at $19.47 in premarket trade on Monday, after closing Friday at $19.41. The stock swung between $18.90 and $20.71 in the prior session, highlighting jittery positioning into early-2026 catalysts.
Why it matters now: Rivian’s latest delivery figures have become the market’s most immediate read on whether demand is holding up for premium-priced electric pickups and SUVs. Rivian delivered 42,247 vehicles in 2025, down about 18% from a year earlier and slightly below the 42,500 analysts expected, Visible Alpha data showed. Attention is shifting to the launch of the lower-priced R2 SUV in the first half of 2026.
The broader backdrop is not helping. EVs were expected to account for 6.6% of U.S. retail vehicle sales in December, down from 11.2% a year earlier, J.D. Power said, as affordability and policy shifts weigh on demand.
In an SEC filing, Rivian said it produced 10,974 vehicles and delivered 9,745 in the fourth quarter, and produced 42,284 and delivered 42,247 for the full year. The company said it will report fourth-quarter and full-year results on Feb. 12 after markets close and host a webcast at 5 p.m. ET.
The delivery miss keeps the spotlight on profitability rather than volume alone. Rivian has been pushing efficiency measures at its Illinois plant and simplifying components to cut material and manufacturing costs as it tries to narrow losses, Reuters reported.
Investors are also tracking the market’s pivot toward autonomy and software, with CES in Las Vegas set to open this week. “This year you will see more and more focus on AI and autonomous,” C.J. Finn, PwC’s U.S. automotive industry leader, told Reuters as companies line up to show new driver-assist and self-driving systems. Reuters
Rivian is among automakers aiming to launch “eyes-off” functionality — systems meant to let a driver stop constantly watching the road in certain situations — as the sector tries to turn costly technology into recurring revenue. Finn said the market will be watching how companies use AI to roll out driverless features safely. Reuters
On the chart, traders have pointed to Friday’s low near $18.90 as near-term support, with the $20.71 session high a level bulls would need to retake to rebuild momentum. Rivian’s shares have traded in a 52-week range of $10.36 to $22.69, according to market data.
But the downside case is still on the table. If demand stays soft without incentives, or if Rivian stumbles on cost reductions and the R2 rollout, the path to improved margins can stretch out quickly, leaving the stock exposed to renewed selling on any disappointment.
