U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has laid off approximately 4.5% of its workforce, according to an internal notice. In this notice, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said that the layoffs mainly involve the reorganization of marketing, vehicle operations, sales/delivery and mobile operations teams.
"These are not changes that were made lightly. As the operating context changes, we have had to rethink how to expand our marketplace capabilities. This news is difficult to accept and we are extremely grateful for the hard work and contributions of the outgoing team members," he said.
As of the end of last year, Rivian had fewer than 15,000 employees, which means the layoffs will affect more than 600 employees. A source familiar with the matter confirmed this.
Scaringe said in Thursday's notice that the changes will ensure the company "can realize our potential by scaling effectively and building a healthy and profitable business." The company is preparing to launch a new R2 model, with production expected to begin next year.
Rivian's third-quarter vehicle sales rose 32% year over year to 13,201 vehicles as buyers rushed to purchase electric vehicles before U.S. government incentives expire at the end of September, but the company has lowered its 2025 delivery forecast to 41,500 to 43,500 vehicles from 46,000.