Rivian's R2 is going to flop, because once a carmaker goes low cost it is game over. Rivian is burning massive cash while the auto market weakens fast on rates and inflation, and its $21B market cap should be closer to Lucid's. x.com 

Rivian's plan to scale cost-efficient R2 and R3 models is unlikely to work well. Steady-state demand and price point remain unproven, an $85K loss per car is a large hole to climb out of, and even if all of that goes well it has no path to Level 4 self-driving. x.com  x.com 

Rivian's Q3 results appear to have crushed expectations, adding a record revenue quarter to its growth case. At first glance, revenue was $2.16B versus $2B estimated, and the loss was $0.48 per share versus $0.74 estimated. x.com 

NXP's Volkswagen platform win could extend earnings growth beyond the auto-order recovery by putting one control-chip family into more vehicle models. Q2 adjusted operating profit rose 17% on 10% sequential revenue growth; Q3 guidance implies roughly $154M more adjusted operating profit on $254M more sales. The VW–Rivian architecture's first vehicle is planned for 2027; pricing, production volumes and chips per vehicle will determine the contribution. x.com 

Rivian's survival depends on demand it probably lacks: it must sell out full capacity at Normal and ramp Georgia, roughly 8x R1 sales, and 400,000-plus units a year of demand looks doubtful. EV demand is down and competition is up in 2026, while the significantly cheaper Model Y sold 357,000 units in the US. The R1 backlog was also cited as proof of high demand in 2021; time will tell. x.com  x.com 

Rivian's weekly upside case rests on aggressive call buying. Its October 30 $12 calls showed about 5,230 contracts filled at the ask in one burst, with $282,200 in premium. x.com 

Rivian's appeal depends on full self-driving, and its premium R1S is not targeted for FSD, which makes premium EV pricing hard to justify. CEO RJ Scaringe is smartly aiming FSD at the mass-market R2. The stock could take off, but only if a semi-capable FSD arrives on the R2 rather than on the strength of the vehicle itself. x.com 

Rivian is next in line for trouble once investors stop funding its cash-burning business. Lucid's stock fell 48% to an all-time low after a report that it is considering going private or filing for Chapter 11; Lucid had not commented. x.com 

Rivian trades well below newly raised analyst targets after lifting its 2026 delivery outlook. Full-year guidance is now 65,000-70,000 vehicles, more than 30% growth, as R2 SUV deliveries began and the model drew a record 57,000 demo drives. Piper Sandler upgraded to $20, Deutsche Bank moved to $24 and TD Cowen raised to $21, against a $16.97 share price. R2 Premium arrives in late 2026, with the standard trim following in 2027. x.com 

Rivian has yet to prove it can build cars profitably, and its self-driving effort is far more than two years behind Tesla's, a total dealbreaker. That rebuts @calistoker123's case that R2 is the second-best US EV and that Rivian, at a $23 billion market cap, could deserve $100 billion if it executes on R2, R3 and self-driving. x.com