Rivian sold about 140 employees, or about 1% of its workforce, as it prepares for the launch of its more accessible R2 SUV in 2026, Techcrunch learned.
The court was mostly made to Rivian’s manufacturing team and continued since Wednesday, according to numerous former employees who received anonymity to talk about the layoffs. Some employees said the company removes roles that have created “process inefficiency.”
Rivian confirmed the courts in an email to Techcrunch. “We have made the difficult decision to reduce a small number of our manufacturing employees as part of an ongoing effort to improve operating efficiency for R2,” a spokesman wrote. The company said affected employees are encouraged to apply for other open posts in the company.
Rivian started the year with over 14,800 workers in North America and Europe, according to its annual registration with the Values and Exchange Commission. The company has made multiple cuts over the last few years, including 10% reduction at the beginning of 2024and Another dismissal of about 1% of personnel in April 2024.
