Rivian Is Selling More Vans Than R1S And R1T EVs Combined

• Rivian’s electric van was its best-selling model in the third quarter.
• The bug-eyed commercial EV outsold the R1S and R1T combined.
• It also outsold all of its competitors combined—by a wide margin.

Rivian’s long-term success is deeply linked to the R2, but until the company’s new mid-size SUV becomes widely available, an unsung hero is silently carrying the California startup forward.

During this year’s third quarter, the Rivian Commercial Van (RCV) was the company’s best-selling model, beating all of its competitors combined, as well as the R1S and R1T combined. According to Cox Automotive data, the lovable electric van sold 8,469 units from July through September, a massive 220.9% increase over the same period last year.

Photo by: Rivian

The result puts the model in fourth place on the list of best-selling EVs in America, after the Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, and Hyundai Ioniq 5.

From the beginning of the year to September 30, Rivian’s van sold 15,685 units, up 130.4% from last year’s 6,806. That’s an impressive result, especially considering how poorly the competition has fared. The second-best-selling electric van in the United States in Q3 was the discontinued Chevrolet BrightDrop, with 1,344 sales, most of which were likely spurred by the extremely aggressive discounts offered by General Motors.

Next up was the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter, with 396 sales, followed by the Ford E-Transit with 184 deliveries, and the Ram ProMaster EV with 157 shipments.

With the Rivian R2 now on sale, interest in the more expensive R1T and R1S has waned by roughly 30% compared to last year’s third quarter, making room for the electric van to swoop in and take the sales crown. The R1S sold 5,582 units in Q3 2026, down 31.8%, while the R1T found 1,732 new customers this past quarter, a 27.2% decrease year over year. Combined, the R1S and R1T sold 7,314 units, 870 fewer than the van. Meanwhile, Rivian sold 3,456 R2s.

A big part of the RCV’s success comes from the California EV maker’s deal with Amazon for 100,000 electric delivery vehicles by 2030—a partnership that none of the competing brands has in their pockets. So far, Rivian has delivered roughly 50,000 vans to the American e-commerce giant, with another 50,000 remaining.

Gallery: Rivian RCV: Orders Open

25

Source: Rivian

The deal, inked in 2019, has proven a lifesaver for Rivian, especially now, when so many car manufacturers are facing huge headwinds caused by shifting policies and limited interest in EVs. That said, the California startup has diversified its portfolio, introducing the R2, updating the R1S and R1T, and opening up orders for its electric van to any company in the U.S. After the exclusivity agreement with Amazon ended in 2023, the Electric Delivery Van (EDV) became the RCV for the general public, with prices starting at $79,900 for the short-wheelbase Delivery 500 model with 161 miles of range and a 2,663-pound payload.

The lovable EV is currently offered with front-wheel drive only, but the company is working on introducing a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version, as well as a larger-capacity, longer-range battery.

U.S. Electric Van Sales

Data from Cox Automotive

More Stories Like This

The New Citroen 2CV Van Is The Perfect Match For Trendy Baristas

Volkswagen Delays The ID. Buzz's Return To The U.S. Again

Kia's New Electric Van Is Bigger And Better, With An 800V Architecture And Flexible Body Styles

This Tiny Electric Kia Camper Somehow Sleeps Four

Stay informed with our newsletter every weekday

 

back

Subscribe For more info, read our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.