Goldman Sachs Hikes Rivian (RIVN) to $18 as Focus Shifts to R2 Platform, Autonomous Driving Progress

Group 1 - Rivian Automotive Inc. has been highlighted as a stock of interest among hedge funds, with Goldman Sachs raising its price target to $18 from $16 while maintaining a Neutral rating [1] - Rivian's Q4 2025 deliveries were reported at 9.7K, which represented a 26% sequential decline and a 31% year-over-year drop, indicating a slight miss compared to estimates [1] - Investor focus is expected to shift towards Rivian's R2 platform and advancements in autonomous driving technology [1] Group 2 - On December 11, Rivian announced a strategic move towards complete vertical integration of its self-driving technology, introducing the Rivian Autonomy Processor (RAP1), a custom-built 5nm chip for vision-centric AI [2] - The RAP1 integrates processing and memory into a single module, utilizing RivLink low-latency interconnect technology for scalable processing power [2] - The third-generation Autonomy Compute Module (ACM3) features specifications of 1,600 sparse INT8 TOPS and the capability to process 5 billion pixels per second, with plans to integrate LiDAR into future R2 models for enhanced 3D spatial data [3] Group 3 - Rivian Automotive Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles (EVs) and accessories, with some analysts suggesting that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential compared to Rivian [4]