'Thank You, Elon:' Musk's Longtime Aide Reportedly Fired Days After Public Praise
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 26 2025
0mins
Should l Buy RIVN?
Source: Benzinga
Elon Musk's Leadership Changes: Tesla's chief Elon Musk has reportedly fired long-time confidant Omead Afshar, who was vice president of sales and manufacturing in North America and Europe, amid declining vehicle sales and internal scrutiny related to a controversial materials purchase plan.
Sales Decline and Industry Impact: Tesla's new vehicle sales dropped 27.9% year-over-year in Europe, contrasting with the overall growth in the electric vehicle market, while other companies like Rivian are also facing job cuts due to cost pressures.
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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: 16.100
Low
10.00
Averages
17.78
High
25.00
Current: 16.100
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.
Rivian Partners with Volkswagen and Uber for Growth
- Strategic Partnerships: Rivian has secured partnerships with major brands like Volkswagen and Uber, which are expected to enhance its market penetration in the electric vehicle sector, particularly as demand for EVs rises amid current energy price volatility.
- New Model Launch: The company plans to introduce a mid-size SUV called the R2, with an expected MSRP below $60,000, aimed at attracting budget-conscious consumers, thereby expanding its market share and boosting sales volumes.
- Software Revenue Surge: Rivian's software and service revenue doubled year-over-year to $447 million, representing 35% of total sales, indicating significant potential in the software domain that could drive future growth.
- Financial Hurdles: Despite facing a 26% year-over-year revenue decline to $1.28 billion and a 26% increase in operating losses to $833 million, management views this as a temporary setback, with demand expected to rebound in 2026.
See More
Rivian Partners with Uber for Major Self-Driving Deal
- Software Subscription Growth: Rivian achieved a gross profit of $576 million in software and services in 2025, a significant increase from $7 million in 2024, indicating substantial progress in its shift towards a software-driven business model that is expected to enhance long-term profitability.
- Partnership with Uber: Uber has agreed to invest up to $1.2 billion in Rivian by 2031, with plans to launch 10,000 Rivian R2 robotaxis in San Francisco and Miami by 2028, further driving Rivian's market penetration and brand influence.
- Market Risks and Challenges: Despite the promising outlook for Rivian's Autonomy+ platform and the Uber partnership, the company reported a net loss of $3.6 billion in 2025, indicating that its business model is still unproven, necessitating cautious evaluation of potential risks by investors.
- Stock Volatility and Investment Opportunity: Rivian's stock has significantly declined this year, with investors witnessing nearly a 90% drop in value over the past five years, yet for aggressive investors who believe in the company's transformation potential, the current stock price may present significant upside opportunities.
See More
Rivian's Software Subscription Business Shows Significant Growth
- Profit Growth in Software: Rivian's software and services segment achieved $576 million in gross profit in 2025, a significant increase from $7 million in 2024, indicating initial success in its shift towards a high-margin software subscription model, despite remaining unprofitable overall.
- Major Partnership with Uber: Rivian has secured a deal with Uber, which plans to invest up to $1.2 billion by 2031, aiming to deploy 10,000 R2 robotaxis in San Francisco and Miami by 2028, potentially driving substantial revenue growth for Rivian.
- Market Response and Investment Risks: Although Rivian's stock has shown positive momentum this week, the nearly 90% decline in share price over the past five years necessitates cautious evaluation of the disconnect between the company's transformation potential and market perception, especially given its history of missing expectations.
- Future Outlook and Challenges: Rivian's Autonomy+ subscription platform and partnership with Uber are seen as promising revenue drivers, but the company faces significant challenges in proving the viability of its business model and achieving profitability.
See More
Uber Invests $1.25 Billion in Rivian for Robotaxi Development
- Massive Investment: Uber has agreed to invest up to $1.25 billion in electric vehicle maker Rivian and plans to purchase up to 50,000 Rivian robotaxis by 2031, a move that not only provides Rivian with crucial funding but also strengthens Uber's competitive position in the autonomous driving sector.
- Funding Injection and Milestones: Uber will invest $300 million in Rivian immediately upon deal completion and plans to make up to four additional investments by 2031 based on certain milestones, ensuring that Rivian has the necessary financial backing for its R&D and production efforts.
- Market Expansion Plans: Rivian's robotaxis are set to deploy in San Francisco and Miami starting in 2028, with plans to expand to 25 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Europe by the end of 2031, significantly enhancing Rivian's market reach and brand visibility.
- Profitability Goal Adjustment: Following the agreement with Uber, Rivian no longer expects to achieve adjusted EBITDA profitability by 2027 due to increased R&D spending associated with accelerating its autonomy roadmap; however, analysts believe this strategic investment will lay a solid foundation for Rivian's long-term growth.
See More
Rivian Secures $1.25 Billion Deal with Uber for Robotaxis
- Capital Injection: Uber's agreement to invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian, including an immediate $300 million stock purchase, ensures Rivian's liquidity over the coming years, supporting the ramp-up of its R2 electric vehicle production.
- Sales Agreement: Uber will purchase up to 50,000 Rivian robotaxis, with deployments starting in San Francisco and Miami in 2028, providing Rivian with a stable revenue stream that enhances its competitive position in the EV market.
- R&D Adjustments: To facilitate this deal, Rivian has adjusted its R&D plans, postponing its goal of achieving adjusted EBITDA profitability by 2027, which, while potentially concerning for investors, underscores its commitment to developing autonomous driving technology.
- Market Strategy: Rivian's robotaxis will operate exclusively through Uber's platform, a strategic partnership that not only lowers Rivian's market entry barriers but also leverages Uber's existing vast network, enhancing Rivian's competitive edge in the autonomous driving sector.
See More
Iran Conflict Boosts Electric Vehicle Demand
- Oil Price Surge: The war in Iran has led to soaring oil prices, significantly enhancing the value proposition of electric vehicles (EVs), with expectations of a short-term boost in EV demand that could evolve into a long-term growth cycle if the conflict escalates.
- Rivian Valuation Drop: Rivian's market cap has plummeted from $100 billion at its IPO to $18.5 billion, yet investor confidence in its growth potential is rising as market opportunities expand amidst fading competition.
- Lucid Revenue Growth: Lucid's fourth-quarter revenue surged 122% year-over-year to $522.7 million, driven by the popularity of its new Lucid Gravity SUV, although it still needs to introduce more affordable models to capture the mass market.
- Profitability Challenges: While both Rivian and Lucid are striving for profitability, Rivian's rapidly growing software and services segment, which accounted for 35% of its fourth-quarter revenue, may provide it with a clearer path to profitability compared to Lucid.
See More
Rivian Partners with Volkswagen and Uber for Growth
- Strategic Partnerships: Rivian has secured partnerships with major brands like Volkswagen and Uber, which are expected to enhance its market penetration in the electric vehicle sector, particularly as demand for EVs rises amid current energy price volatility.
- New Model Launch: The company plans to introduce a mid-size SUV called the R2, with an expected MSRP below $60,000, aimed at attracting budget-conscious consumers, thereby expanding its market share and boosting sales volumes.
- Software Revenue Surge: Rivian's software and service revenue doubled year-over-year to $447 million, representing 35% of total sales, indicating significant potential in the software domain that could drive future growth.
- Financial Hurdles: Despite facing a 26% year-over-year revenue decline to $1.28 billion and a 26% increase in operating losses to $833 million, management views this as a temporary setback, with demand expected to rebound in 2026.
See More
Rivian Partners with Uber for Major Self-Driving Deal
- Software Subscription Growth: Rivian achieved a gross profit of $576 million in software and services in 2025, a significant increase from $7 million in 2024, indicating substantial progress in its shift towards a software-driven business model that is expected to enhance long-term profitability.
- Partnership with Uber: Uber has agreed to invest up to $1.2 billion in Rivian by 2031, with plans to launch 10,000 Rivian R2 robotaxis in San Francisco and Miami by 2028, further driving Rivian's market penetration and brand influence.
- Market Risks and Challenges: Despite the promising outlook for Rivian's Autonomy+ platform and the Uber partnership, the company reported a net loss of $3.6 billion in 2025, indicating that its business model is still unproven, necessitating cautious evaluation of potential risks by investors.
- Stock Volatility and Investment Opportunity: Rivian's stock has significantly declined this year, with investors witnessing nearly a 90% drop in value over the past five years, yet for aggressive investors who believe in the company's transformation potential, the current stock price may present significant upside opportunities.
See More
Rivian's Software Subscription Business Shows Significant Growth
- Profit Growth in Software: Rivian's software and services segment achieved $576 million in gross profit in 2025, a significant increase from $7 million in 2024, indicating initial success in its shift towards a high-margin software subscription model, despite remaining unprofitable overall.
- Major Partnership with Uber: Rivian has secured a deal with Uber, which plans to invest up to $1.2 billion by 2031, aiming to deploy 10,000 R2 robotaxis in San Francisco and Miami by 2028, potentially driving substantial revenue growth for Rivian.
- Market Response and Investment Risks: Although Rivian's stock has shown positive momentum this week, the nearly 90% decline in share price over the past five years necessitates cautious evaluation of the disconnect between the company's transformation potential and market perception, especially given its history of missing expectations.
- Future Outlook and Challenges: Rivian's Autonomy+ subscription platform and partnership with Uber are seen as promising revenue drivers, but the company faces significant challenges in proving the viability of its business model and achieving profitability.
See More
Uber Invests $1.25 Billion in Rivian for Robotaxi Development
- Massive Investment: Uber has agreed to invest up to $1.25 billion in electric vehicle maker Rivian and plans to purchase up to 50,000 Rivian robotaxis by 2031, a move that not only provides Rivian with crucial funding but also strengthens Uber's competitive position in the autonomous driving sector.
- Funding Injection and Milestones: Uber will invest $300 million in Rivian immediately upon deal completion and plans to make up to four additional investments by 2031 based on certain milestones, ensuring that Rivian has the necessary financial backing for its R&D and production efforts.
- Market Expansion Plans: Rivian's robotaxis are set to deploy in San Francisco and Miami starting in 2028, with plans to expand to 25 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Europe by the end of 2031, significantly enhancing Rivian's market reach and brand visibility.
- Profitability Goal Adjustment: Following the agreement with Uber, Rivian no longer expects to achieve adjusted EBITDA profitability by 2027 due to increased R&D spending associated with accelerating its autonomy roadmap; however, analysts believe this strategic investment will lay a solid foundation for Rivian's long-term growth.
See More
Rivian Secures $1.25 Billion Deal with Uber for Robotaxis
- Capital Injection: Uber's agreement to invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian, including an immediate $300 million stock purchase, ensures Rivian's liquidity over the coming years, supporting the ramp-up of its R2 electric vehicle production.
- Sales Agreement: Uber will purchase up to 50,000 Rivian robotaxis, with deployments starting in San Francisco and Miami in 2028, providing Rivian with a stable revenue stream that enhances its competitive position in the EV market.
- R&D Adjustments: To facilitate this deal, Rivian has adjusted its R&D plans, postponing its goal of achieving adjusted EBITDA profitability by 2027, which, while potentially concerning for investors, underscores its commitment to developing autonomous driving technology.
- Market Strategy: Rivian's robotaxis will operate exclusively through Uber's platform, a strategic partnership that not only lowers Rivian's market entry barriers but also leverages Uber's existing vast network, enhancing Rivian's competitive edge in the autonomous driving sector.
See More
Iran Conflict Boosts Electric Vehicle Demand
- Oil Price Surge: The war in Iran has led to soaring oil prices, significantly enhancing the value proposition of electric vehicles (EVs), with expectations of a short-term boost in EV demand that could evolve into a long-term growth cycle if the conflict escalates.
- Rivian Valuation Drop: Rivian's market cap has plummeted from $100 billion at its IPO to $18.5 billion, yet investor confidence in its growth potential is rising as market opportunities expand amidst fading competition.
- Lucid Revenue Growth: Lucid's fourth-quarter revenue surged 122% year-over-year to $522.7 million, driven by the popularity of its new Lucid Gravity SUV, although it still needs to introduce more affordable models to capture the mass market.
- Profitability Challenges: While both Rivian and Lucid are striving for profitability, Rivian's rapidly growing software and services segment, which accounted for 35% of its fourth-quarter revenue, may provide it with a clearer path to profitability compared to Lucid.
See More
