U.S. electric vehicle maker Rivian rose to the No. 2 EV brand in the United States in the third quarter this year, behind Tesla. That was up eight places from 10th in the same period a year earlier, helped by rising sales of its new R2 electric model and commercial electric vans.

Electrek reported on Oct. 20 that Rivian posted U.S. EV sales of 19,239 vehicles in the third quarter of 2026, based on data compiled by market research firm Cox Automotive. That was up 45.7 percent from 13,201 a year earlier, with market share reaching 7.2 percent.

Rivian's growth was influenced by the new midsize electric sport utility vehicle, the R2. The R2 began sales this year and sold 3,456 units in the third quarter. Smaller and cheaper than the existing R1S, it is drawing attention as a rival model to the Tesla Model Y.

Still, the sales increase is not attributable to the R2 alone. Rivian's electric delivery van (EDV) sold 8,469 units over the same period, up 220.9 percent from a year earlier. Sales of the existing R1S SUV and R1T pickup fell 31.8 percent and 27.2 percent, respectively.

Tesla still held a dominant No. 1 position. Its U.S. sales in the third quarter totaled 144,094 vehicles for a 54 percent market share. Sales fell 19.7 percent from a year earlier.

Chevrolet, previously the No. 2 brand, slipped to 10,031 vehicles, ceding its spot to Rivian. Total EV sales for GM, combining Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC, were 25,473 vehicles, still ahead of Rivian.

The overall U.S. EV market contracted 39.5 percent from the third quarter a year earlier. A base effect played a role after a surge in sales ahead of the end of a federal EV purchase tax credit in September last year.

In contrast, Rivian and Toyota, Lexus and Subaru increased sales on the back of new model effects.

Rivian also plans to add an affordable R2 model priced at about $50,000, or about 66,235,000 won. Attention is focused on whether an expanding supply of new models will lead to a long-term rise in market share.