Rivian: Risky Business or Electric Dreams?

Right. Rivian. (RIVN +26.64%). Let’s be honest, it’s a bit of a gamble, isn’t it? The stock’s hovering just above twenty bucks – feels… precarious. But they’ve got this R2 thing coming, a whole fleet of electric vehicles. 2026 is the year, apparently. A lot riding on it. A lot. And you know what? They’re actually showing signs of not completely imploding. So, is it time to throw some money at it? I’ve been staring at the numbers, and frankly, it’s giving me anxiety. But let’s dig in, shall we? Because if I lose money on this, I’m blaming all of you.

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The R2: Trying to Be Sensible

So, the R2. It’s supposed to be the game-changer. They’re promising luxury SUV vibes, but… cheaper. Starting at $45,000. Which, in the grand scheme of electric vehicles, isn’t insane. It’s a deliberate move, isn’t it? They’re trying to drag themselves out of the ‘exclusive toy for the wealthy’ bracket and actually appeal to… people. They claim over 68,000 reservations within 24 hours of the announcement. Which is… impressive. Or a clever marketing ploy. I’m leaning towards the latter, if I’m being brutally honest.

Electric vehicle sales have cooled down recently – nobody seems to want one right now – but Rivian’s betting on a resurgence. It’s a bold move. A little bit reckless, even. But then again, what’s life without a little bit of risk? I mean, I’m asking for a friend.

Ramping Up… Slowly

They delivered 42,247 vehicles last year. Not bad. They’re aiming for 62,000 to 67,000 this year. A significant jump, if they can pull it off. The R2 is supposed to be the catalyst. I’m picturing a chaotic production line, frantic engineers, and a whole lot of crossed fingers. It’s a beautiful, terrifying image, isn’t it?

Volkswagen: A Necessary Evil?

This partnership with Volkswagen… it’s interesting. It’s like watching two rivals reluctantly join forces to survive. Rivian’s providing the tech, Volkswagen’s providing the… well, the money, mostly. They made $576 million in software and services gross profit last year. Which is good. Overall gross profit was $144 million, but the automotive segment lost $432 million. Still, it’s an improvement from the $1.2 billion loss the year before. Baby steps, I suppose. It’s like watching a patient recover. You hope they’ll be okay, but you’re also bracing yourself for a relapse.

The stock is down 10% year-to-date. Volatile, naturally, with a beta of 1.77. The CEO, RJ Scaringe, is admitting there are supply chain issues. Of course there are. There always are. He says they’ve learned from past mistakes. I’m sure they have. We all make mistakes. Some of us just make more expensive ones.

If the R2 actually delivers on the hype… well, maybe, just maybe, there’s a clear road ahead for Rivian. Or maybe it’s just another electric dream destined to crash and burn. Honestly, I have no idea. And that, my friends, is why I’m slightly terrified, and deeply intrigued.

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2026-02-17 08:22