Rivian cuts jobs as R2 deliveries ramp up

Rivian said on June 16, 2026 that it is laying off hundreds of workers, representing less than 2% of its total workforce. The company described the action as part of a restructuring effort and emphasized that only a small portion of employees are affected relative to its overall headcount.

The layoffs are concentrated in the service and customer organization, including sales and marketing roles. Rivian said it has "restructured a handful of teams" as it adjusts its operations and staffing mix.

In a statement, Rivian said these changes are intended to help the company "profitably scale our business." The move reflects a focus on aligning operating costs and organizational structure with its growth plans.

Rivian indicated that the job reductions primarily affect teams that interact directly with customers or support sales activities. This includes service operations as well as sales and marketing groups within the broader customer organization.

The company has not detailed specific locations or sub-teams beyond these broad categories, but characterized the affected units as a subset of service and customer-focused functions. The number of employees involved was described as "hundreds" while remaining below 2% of the company-wide workforce.

The workforce reduction comes shortly after Rivian began delivering its new R2 SUV, a smaller model in its lineup. Production of the R2 started in April 2026, and deliveries were reported as underway in early June.

Rivian said the layoffs were announced about a week after the start of R2 deliveries. The timing links the restructuring with the transition into series production and customer rollout of the new vehicle.

The R2 launch marks a significant operational step for Rivian, as it expands its product range while making internal adjustments to support what it describes as profitable scaling.

Rivian has stated that it no longer expects to meet its 2027 adjusted core profit target. The company linked this change in outlook to increased research and development spending.

The additional R&D investment is aimed at accelerating Rivian's autonomous driving roadmap. Higher spending in this area is contributing to a delay in reaching the previously stated profitability goal.

Taken together, the job cuts and revised profit expectations highlight Rivian's effort to control operating costs in some parts of the business while committing more resources to software and autonomy capabilities during the R2 rollout.