Empty workstations in a large, active vehicle assembly plant.
Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has recently laid off hundreds of employees, primarily within its service and customer organization. This move is part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at achieving profitable scaling of its business operations.
A company spokesperson confirmed that the job cuts represent less than 2% of Rivian’s total workforce, which stood at approximately 15,200 employees at the close of 2025. The company has stated that affected employees are encouraged to apply for other open positions within Rivian.
The layoffs, which took effect on Tuesday, impacted the service and customer division responsible for sales and marketing. This restructuring coincides with the company’s efforts to grow efficiently while simultaneously rolling out its new R2 SUV model.
This is not the first instance of workforce reduction for Rivian in the past year. The company previously conducted multiple rounds of layoffs as it prepared for the launch of the R2 SUV, a key component of its future product roadmap. In October, Rivian cut over 600 jobs, approximately 4.5% of its workforce, following a dip in vehicle demand after the expiration of federal EV tax credits.
The R2 SUV was unveiled recently, with a variant starting around $58,000 that includes a range of optional add-ons. Rivian plans to introduce more affordable versions in the future, hoping to broaden demand and improve its sales outlook as it pursues profitability.
Rivian has also revised its financial projections, no longer expecting to meet its 2027 adjusted core profit target. This adjustment is attributed to increased spending on research and development, particularly to accelerate its autonomous driving technology roadmap.
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