Some investors are shying away from Rivian Automotive (RIVN +1.15%) because 2025 is setting up to be a rather boring year. The company has no visible catalysts. Its next vehicle launch isn't until 2026, and it already announced exciting joint ventures and DoE loan approvals last year.
For those reasons, some investors think Rivian is doomed to lag the market in 2025, but here are three reasons to buy Rivian now.
Ice cream endeavors
Many investors heard of Rivian for the first time when it inked an exclusive deal to supply Amazon with 100,000 electric delivery vehicles. It was big news when the two agreed to end the exclusivity and enable Rivian to sell its electric vans to other companies. Rivian took time during 2024 to set up pilot programs and test with companies looking to convert their fleets, but this could be the year investors start to see more companies come on board with orders.
We have already seen one unique example. Ben & Jerry's recently teamed up with Rivian to create electric ice cream trucks. While the Ben & Jerry's order was more fun and a marketing ploy than significant business, it also brings up the point that the list of companies that can potentially order Rivian's delivery vans is extraordinarily long – its business potential is lucrative.
A step forward on the profit front
One of Rivian's biggest accomplishments last year was when the company turned gross profit positive during the fourth quarter. The key drivers of its gross profit were improvements in variable costs, revenue per unit delivered, and fixed costs. The launch of Rivian's second-generation R1 vehicles included significant design optimizations and supply chain cost reductions.
Rivian also made progress implementing greater operational efficiencies at its Illinois plant, and all of the company's improvements have positioned the company to turn a modest gross profit for the full year 2025 -- a big step toward proving to investors that it can turn a profit down the road.
NASDAQ: RIVN
Key Data Points
A promising product pipeline
Having a pipeline of future product is essential for young companies to grow and expand quickly. For Rivian, the company's upcoming R2 vehicle is important for numerous reasons.
The R2 has seen significant cost reductions and will be more profitable than its predecessors. Just as important as its cost reductions, its price tag to consumers will drop to roughly $45,000, much more affordable than Rivian's R1 products, which start at roughly $76,000. Rivian's lower price tag will open the doors to a more mainstream consumer who could significantly boost demand.
Another often overlooked aspect of the R2 is that it will sell overseas. The plan is to ramp up ample production for North America and then to send the R2 overseas, where it hopes to find a second significant market for its vehicles. Following the R2 will be the R3 and R3X, both hoping to incrementally expand sales.
Is Rivian a buy?
This year might bring a buying opportunity for Rivian. It's possible the company's stock lags behind the market as there's a lack of any visible catalyst, with the nearest vehicle launch being the R2 in 2026.
But despite a potentially slow 2025, Rivian has seemingly separated itself from young start-up EV makers. It's making quality products that have received many rewards, it has generated a positive gross profit and expects to continue doing so for the full 2025 year. It has a product pipeline with the R2, R3, and R3X, and a joint venture with Volkswagen worth up to $5.8 billion. Rivian has momentum.
With all that said, Rivian will keep burning cash and posting losses for the foreseeable future and will remain highly speculative. The company should only be a small position in your portfolio, even if 2025 brings investors a buying opportunity.
