Rivian finds a way to shine even as the EV market struggles in the dark

Core Insights - Rivian has demonstrated a significant turnaround in its financial performance, reporting gross profits for 2025 of $144 million after a net loss of $1.2 billion in 2024, leading to a 27% surge in its stock price [2][3] Financial Performance - Rivian's gross profit increase is attributed to strong software and services performance, higher average selling prices, and reductions in cost per vehicle [3] - The company delivered 42,247 vehicles and produced 42,284 vehicles in 2025, although it still reported a net loss of $432 million for automotive profits, an improvement from the previous year [3] Market Context - The expiration of the $7,500 federal tax credit for new electric vehicles has pressured companies to lower prices, with competitors like Tesla reducing prices by approximately $5,000 on certain models [5] - Rivian is focusing on the upcoming R2 model, expected to start at around $45,000, with deliveries slated to begin in the spring [6] Product Development - The current least expensive model, the R1T pickup truck, starts at $72,990, and early feedback on the R2 SUV has been positive [7] - Rivian's CEO expressed excitement about the strong early reviews of the R2 pre-production builds, indicating confidence in the model's market potential [7]