Rivian Announces Layoffs of 150 Employees Ahead of R2 SUV Launch in 2023

Automotive startup Rivian is reducing its workforce by around 150 employees, marking the company’s second round of layoffs in a short span of time. This move comes as Rivian prepares for the highly anticipated launch of its cost-effective R2 SUV, scheduled for next year.

The company confirmed the recent redundancies primarily impacted the commercial team, which handles sales and service operations. Affected employees are eligible for rehiring and are encouraged to apply for open positions within the organization. The Wall Street Journal initially reported the layoffs on Thursday.

This latest round of cuts follows a similar reduction in June that targeted approximately 1% of Rivian’s total workforce, focusing on its manufacturing team.

Over the past two years, Rivian has made several workforce adjustments. In early 2024, it let go of around 10% of its staff, and in April 2024, a smaller cut was announced. The company began this year with roughly 15,000 employees worldwide.