Rivian R2 Production Ramps Up as Pritzker Calls It the Best EV Maker
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 20 2026
0mins
Source: stocktwits
- R2 Production Update: Rivian has ramped up R2 production recently after earlier setbacks due to tornado damage, with deliveries expected to start this Spring, marking a significant step in the company's expansion in the EV market.
- Pritzker's Endorsement: Illinois Governor Pritzker praised Rivian as the 'best EV maker in the world,' stating that the R2, priced below $50,000, will democratize electric vehicle access for the middle class, highlighting its market significance.
- Investment and Employment: Rivian's $1.5 billion investment to expand R2 production at the former Mitsubishi plant has created thousands of jobs and plans for a nearby supplier park, further boosting local economic development.
- Delivery Expectations: Rivian now anticipates delivering 62,000 to 67,000 vehicles in 2026, a significant increase from 42,247 in 2025, although R2 deliveries will be 'back-half weighted,' which may impact the company's future market performance.
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Analyst Views on RIVN
Wall Street analysts forecast RIVN stock price to rise
18 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
7 Hold
3 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 15.200
Low
10.00
Averages
17.78
High
25.00
Current: 15.200
Low
10.00
Averages
17.78
High
25.00
About RIVN
Rivian Automotive, Inc. is an automotive technology company, which is engaged in developing and manufacturing category-defining electric vehicles (EVs) as well as vertically integrated technologies and services. The Company's R1 platform consists of two vehicles: the R1T, a two-row five-passenger pickup truck, and the R1S, a three-row seven-passenger sport utility vehicle (SUV). In the commercial market, the Company offers a Rivian Commercial Vehicle (RCV) platform. The vehicle on this platform is the Electric Delivery Van (EDV), designed and engineered by Rivian in collaboration with Amazon. The Company also offers FleetOS, its proprietary, end-to-end centralized fleet management subscription platform. It also offers a variety of services, including vehicle repair and maintenance, financing, insurance, joint venture, software subscriptions, and vehicle accessories, among others. Its other services include vehicle electrical architecture and software development services, and more.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Analysis of Investment Opportunities in AI Stocks
- Market Valuation Comparison: Nvidia's market cap has reached $5.2 trillion with a P/E ratio of 33, indicating an overall expensive environment for AI stocks, prompting investors to seek more cost-effective alternatives.
- Rivian's Transformation: Rivian is not just an electric vehicle manufacturer but is actively transforming into an AI stock, focusing on integrating AI technology into its design and manufacturing processes, particularly in self-driving features.
- Market Potential: With advancements in AI technology, the autonomous driving market is expected to grow rapidly, with long-term value potentially reaching $10 trillion, aligning Rivian's investment direction with this trend, even as it strives to scale its automotive manufacturing.
- Uber Partnership Validation: Uber's $1.25 billion deal to purchase 50,000 R2 SUVs from Rivian underscores Rivian's potential in the future robotaxi industry, despite its brand recognition lagging behind Tesla.
See More
Rivian's Transformation into an AI Stock: Growth Potential
- Market Position Shift: Rivian Automotive, with a market cap of $21 billion, is still scaling its electric vehicle manufacturing but has clearly positioned itself as an AI stock, aiming to accelerate its autonomy roadmap through increased R&D spending.
- Strategic Partnership Opportunity: Uber Technologies has committed to a $1.25 billion deal to purchase up to 50,000 R2 SUVs from Rivian, validating Rivian's autonomy-first strategy and laying the groundwork for entry into the potential trillion-dollar robotaxi market.
- Industry Competition Analysis: While Rivian lacks the brand recognition and scale of Tesla, its investments in AI and autonomy, coupled with the partnership with Uber, indicate its potential to become a significant player in the future robotaxi industry.
- Market Opportunity Assessment: With Rivian's shares down nearly 25% since the beginning of 2026, investors now have a rare opportunity to buy into this emerging AI stock at a substantial discount, especially as the global robotaxi market is projected to reach $10 trillion.
See More
Rivian Automotive Stock Rises 7.11% Driven by R2 SUV Launch Confirmation
- New Vehicle Launch Confirmation: Rivian confirmed the launch of the R2 SUV on June 9, propelling the stock price up 7.24% to $16.3, indicating strong market anticipation that could enhance the company's future financial performance.
- Surge in Trading Volume: Trading volume reached 56.6 million shares, nearly double the three-month average, reflecting a significant increase in investor interest in Rivian, potentially laying the groundwork for further stock price appreciation.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Rivian's R2 model is expected to have a range of 330 miles with a starting price of approximately $58,000, with production costs projected to be half that of the R1 model, which could significantly boost the company's profitability if successfully launched.
- Market Competition Analysis: Rivian's performance outpaced Tesla and Lucid in the electric vehicle market, demonstrating confidence ahead of the new model launch, which may attract more investor attention to its future growth prospects.
See More
Rivian Automotive Stock Rises 7.24% on R2 SUV Launch Confirmation
- Stock Surge: Rivian Automotive's stock closed at $16.3 on Friday, up 7.24%, primarily driven by the confirmation of the R2 SUV launch on June 9, indicating strong market anticipation for the new model.
- Volume Spike: The trading volume reached 56.6 million shares on Friday, nearly double the three-month average of 28.4 million shares, reflecting a significant increase in investor interest regarding Rivian's future developments.
- New Model Outlook: Rivian confirmed that order invitations will be sent to reservation holders on June 9, with demo drives starting, and the first available model being the Performance trim, estimated to have a range of 330 miles and a starting price of about $58,000, which is expected to be a profitable venture for the company.
- Competitive Market Pressure: Despite Rivian's strong stock performance, analysts noted that the Motley Fool's Stock Advisor team did not include it in their list of top investment stocks, reflecting a cautious outlook on its long-term growth potential.
See More
Rivian Confirms R2 SUV Launch, Stock Rises
- Stock Surge: Rivian Automotive's stock closed at $16.3 on Friday, up 7.24%, primarily driven by the confirmation of the R2 SUV launch on June 9, indicating strong market anticipation for the new model.
- Surge in Trading Volume: The trading volume reached 56.6 million shares, about twice the three-month average of 28.4 million shares, reflecting a significant increase in investor interest, which may signal further stock price volatility ahead.
- R2 SUV Outlook: Rivian confirmed that order invitations will be sent to reservation holders on June 9, with demo drives commencing, and the first model, the Performance trim, is expected to have a range of 330 miles and a starting price of approximately $58,000, likely generating substantial profits for the company.
- Competitive Market Pressure: Despite the upcoming R2 SUV launch, analysts noted that the Motley Fool's Stock Advisor team did not include Rivian among the current best stocks to buy, indicating a cautious outlook on its long-term performance in a competitive market.
See More
Bloom Energy and Rivian See High Options Trading Volume
- Bloom Energy Options Activity: Bloom Energy Corp (Ticker: BE) has seen an options trading volume of 98,414 contracts today, representing approximately 9.8 million shares, which constitutes about 99.8% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, indicating strong market interest in its future performance.
- High Volume Put Options: Within Bloom Energy, the $260 strike put option has been particularly active, with 9,445 contracts traded today, equating to approximately 944,500 underlying shares, reflecting investor expectations of potential declines in the stock's future value.
- Rivian Options Activity: Rivian Automotive Inc (Ticker: RIVN) has recorded an options trading volume of 270,363 contracts today, representing around 27 million shares, or about 86.9% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, showcasing significant market interest in its stock.
- Active Call Options: For Rivian, the $16 strike call option has seen notable activity, with 16,523 contracts traded today, representing approximately 1.7 million underlying shares, suggesting a bullish outlook among investors regarding the stock's future performance.
See More
Analysis of Investment Opportunities in AI Stocks
- Market Valuation Comparison: Nvidia's market cap has reached $5.2 trillion with a P/E ratio of 33, indicating an overall expensive environment for AI stocks, prompting investors to seek more cost-effective alternatives.
- Rivian's Transformation: Rivian is not just an electric vehicle manufacturer but is actively transforming into an AI stock, focusing on integrating AI technology into its design and manufacturing processes, particularly in self-driving features.
- Market Potential: With advancements in AI technology, the autonomous driving market is expected to grow rapidly, with long-term value potentially reaching $10 trillion, aligning Rivian's investment direction with this trend, even as it strives to scale its automotive manufacturing.
- Uber Partnership Validation: Uber's $1.25 billion deal to purchase 50,000 R2 SUVs from Rivian underscores Rivian's potential in the future robotaxi industry, despite its brand recognition lagging behind Tesla.
See More
Rivian's Transformation into an AI Stock: Growth Potential
- Market Position Shift: Rivian Automotive, with a market cap of $21 billion, is still scaling its electric vehicle manufacturing but has clearly positioned itself as an AI stock, aiming to accelerate its autonomy roadmap through increased R&D spending.
- Strategic Partnership Opportunity: Uber Technologies has committed to a $1.25 billion deal to purchase up to 50,000 R2 SUVs from Rivian, validating Rivian's autonomy-first strategy and laying the groundwork for entry into the potential trillion-dollar robotaxi market.
- Industry Competition Analysis: While Rivian lacks the brand recognition and scale of Tesla, its investments in AI and autonomy, coupled with the partnership with Uber, indicate its potential to become a significant player in the future robotaxi industry.
- Market Opportunity Assessment: With Rivian's shares down nearly 25% since the beginning of 2026, investors now have a rare opportunity to buy into this emerging AI stock at a substantial discount, especially as the global robotaxi market is projected to reach $10 trillion.
See More
Rivian Automotive Stock Rises 7.11% Driven by R2 SUV Launch Confirmation
- New Vehicle Launch Confirmation: Rivian confirmed the launch of the R2 SUV on June 9, propelling the stock price up 7.24% to $16.3, indicating strong market anticipation that could enhance the company's future financial performance.
- Surge in Trading Volume: Trading volume reached 56.6 million shares, nearly double the three-month average, reflecting a significant increase in investor interest in Rivian, potentially laying the groundwork for further stock price appreciation.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Rivian's R2 model is expected to have a range of 330 miles with a starting price of approximately $58,000, with production costs projected to be half that of the R1 model, which could significantly boost the company's profitability if successfully launched.
- Market Competition Analysis: Rivian's performance outpaced Tesla and Lucid in the electric vehicle market, demonstrating confidence ahead of the new model launch, which may attract more investor attention to its future growth prospects.
See More
Rivian Automotive Stock Rises 7.24% on R2 SUV Launch Confirmation
- Stock Surge: Rivian Automotive's stock closed at $16.3 on Friday, up 7.24%, primarily driven by the confirmation of the R2 SUV launch on June 9, indicating strong market anticipation for the new model.
- Volume Spike: The trading volume reached 56.6 million shares on Friday, nearly double the three-month average of 28.4 million shares, reflecting a significant increase in investor interest regarding Rivian's future developments.
- New Model Outlook: Rivian confirmed that order invitations will be sent to reservation holders on June 9, with demo drives starting, and the first available model being the Performance trim, estimated to have a range of 330 miles and a starting price of about $58,000, which is expected to be a profitable venture for the company.
- Competitive Market Pressure: Despite Rivian's strong stock performance, analysts noted that the Motley Fool's Stock Advisor team did not include it in their list of top investment stocks, reflecting a cautious outlook on its long-term growth potential.
See More
Rivian Confirms R2 SUV Launch, Stock Rises
- Stock Surge: Rivian Automotive's stock closed at $16.3 on Friday, up 7.24%, primarily driven by the confirmation of the R2 SUV launch on June 9, indicating strong market anticipation for the new model.
- Surge in Trading Volume: The trading volume reached 56.6 million shares, about twice the three-month average of 28.4 million shares, reflecting a significant increase in investor interest, which may signal further stock price volatility ahead.
- R2 SUV Outlook: Rivian confirmed that order invitations will be sent to reservation holders on June 9, with demo drives commencing, and the first model, the Performance trim, is expected to have a range of 330 miles and a starting price of approximately $58,000, likely generating substantial profits for the company.
- Competitive Market Pressure: Despite the upcoming R2 SUV launch, analysts noted that the Motley Fool's Stock Advisor team did not include Rivian among the current best stocks to buy, indicating a cautious outlook on its long-term performance in a competitive market.
See More
Bloom Energy and Rivian See High Options Trading Volume
- Bloom Energy Options Activity: Bloom Energy Corp (Ticker: BE) has seen an options trading volume of 98,414 contracts today, representing approximately 9.8 million shares, which constitutes about 99.8% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, indicating strong market interest in its future performance.
- High Volume Put Options: Within Bloom Energy, the $260 strike put option has been particularly active, with 9,445 contracts traded today, equating to approximately 944,500 underlying shares, reflecting investor expectations of potential declines in the stock's future value.
- Rivian Options Activity: Rivian Automotive Inc (Ticker: RIVN) has recorded an options trading volume of 270,363 contracts today, representing around 27 million shares, or about 86.9% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, showcasing significant market interest in its stock.
- Active Call Options: For Rivian, the $16 strike call option has seen notable activity, with 16,523 contracts traded today, representing approximately 1.7 million underlying shares, suggesting a bullish outlook among investors regarding the stock's future performance.
See More
