Rivian trims – Rivian is cutting less than 2% of its workforce after restructuring teams, affecting some roles in service and customer functions as it ramps its most important launch yet: the midsize R2 SUV. The company says the move is aimed at scaling more efficiently towa
Rivian’s latest round of layoffs lands like a quiet gear-shift—small enough to be described as “a handful of teams,” but heavy enough to be felt inside the service and customer groups that help turn an electric vehicle launch into day-to-day business.
The EV maker is cutting less than 2% of its workforce amid what it calls a make-or-break year. with the company saying it has restructured teams as it works to profitably scale. In a statement. a company spokesperson said: “We recently restructured a handful of teams within Rivian as we work to profitably scale our business.”.
The cuts are aimed at some teams in Rivian’s service and customer organization. including go-to-market functions such as sales and marketing. the spokesperson said. The company added that the changes are intended to help it scale more efficiently as it pushes toward building a healthy and profitable business.
A person familiar with the layoffs said some affected employees were notified directly by managers.
Rivian is not framing these moves as a break in momentum. Instead. the layoffs are taking place as the company prepares—and begins—its third consumer vehicle: the midsize R2 SUV. which Rivian described as its most important product. Its other passenger vehicles—the R1T pickup and the R1S three-row SUV—have helped establish Rivian as a premium EV brand. but have not made the company profitable on a net income basis.
Delivery timing matters here. Rivian started delivering the first R2s to customers on June 9. and started deliveries of its R2 EV earlier in June. The midsize SUV enters America’s most popular vehicle segment and competes with Tesla’s Model Y. one of the world’s best-selling cars. Rivian’s spokesperson said the company remains confident in the R2 and its ability to deliver and ramp the five-seater to customers.
For the employees affected, the company says eligibility for rehire remains on the table. The spokesperson said affected workers are eligible for rehire and encouraged to apply for other open roles at Rivian. The company is also providing severance packages, benefits, and career-transition services.
All of this is happening as Rivian tries to solve a basic tension that has defined its story so far: it can produce premium electric vehicles that win attention. yet it has still not reached net-income profitability. With the R2 now in motion. the question for employees and investors alike is whether trimming costs and reshaping teams is enough to turn launch enthusiasm into durable financial performance.
Rivian layoffs EV maker workforce cuts R2 SUV R1T R1S profitability sales and marketing service organization severance June 9 deliveries Tesla Model Y
less than 2% but they call it “handful of teams” lol so it’s basically nothing… until it hits your cousin.
So they’re cutting sales/marketing stuff while trying to ramp the R2? Seems backwards to me. Like how do you sell a new SUV with fewer go-to-market people. I’m not saying it’s bad, I just don’t get it.
Wait are they still laying off people after June 9 deliveries? I thought layoffs already happened. Kinda sounds like they’re doing it quietly then telling employees “rehire is on the table” which is basically we might hire you back if you’re lucky. Also Tesla already has the Model Y, so idk.
This is what happens when companies bet the farm on one model year. R1T and R1S couldn’t make them net income profitable and now they’re trimming service/customer roles like that magically fixes it. “profitably scale” is the phrase of the year. Meanwhile my neighbor says Rivian service is already a nightmare so… yeah.