Rivian reported its first quarter earnings of 2026, providing us a closer look at the company’s financial health as it kicks off production for the crucial R2 electric vehicle.

Rivian Automotive on Thursday posted decent first-quarter earnings, but the company really wants investors looking to the future.

Rivian's leadership has been steady, and it is executing on its roadmap to cheaper EVs. Lucid's path forward has been far more winding, and it's still unclear where it will end up. Investing in electric vehicle (EV) companies right now can feel a little risky -- and it is -- but some companies look like better bets than others.

Rivian’s first mass-market vehicle — was the focal point of Thursday’s first-quarter earnings call. R2 production began last week in Normal. They’ll reach customers later this spring.

Rivian R2 Performance units with the Launch Package are also offered with an exclusive, extra-cost paint upgrade called Launch Green. This exterior color was inspired by the e-coat process used during development of its larger EV sibling, the R1, with the return deemed “even more special.”

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe just cashed in, with his 2025 pay ringing in to the tune of $403 milllion in compensation. That doesn't make him just well-paid, but it makes him among the best-paid people of his caliber across the board.

Rivian will report first quarter earnings after the bell on Thursday, as the pure-play EV-maker navigates launches of its highly anticipated R2 midsize SUV, while managing its cash burn.

Alaskan Rivian owners find themselves trapped if their trucks ever become inoperable.