Local automakers reported mixed first-quarter results with legacy brands such as Kia America leaning on SUVs and hybrids for growth, while Rivian Automotive saw a production decline ahead of its next-generation R2 launch.
Rivian Sales Up, Production Down
Ahead of its R2 launch this year, Rivian said on April 2 it delivered 10,365 electric vehicles during the first quarter of 2026, a 20% increase from a year ago.
The Irvine-based EV maker produced 10,236 EVs in Q1, down 30% from the 14,611 vehicles Rivian manufactured a year ago.
Shares rose 3.1% to $15.40 with a market cap of $19 billion on the day of the report (Nasdaq: RIVN).
The automaker said the first quarter results were in line with its outlook.
“We expect total deliveries of approximately 9,000 to 11,000 per quarter in the first half of 2026,” Chief Executive RJ Scaringe told analysts on a Feb. 12 earnings call.
Rivian also reaffirmed its previously announced 2026 delivery forecast of 62,000 to 67,000 vehicles, predicting a possible 47% to 59% increase from the 42,247 EVs delivered in 2025.
Rivian expects the R2—starting at $57,990 with later configurations ranging from $45,000 to $53,990—to drive sales growth and become an even bigger boon in 2027.
Deliveries of the first R2 iteration are estimated for later this spring, with a premium edition to follow in late 2026 and a standard configuration in the first half of 2027.
Chief Financial Officer Claire McDonough said R1 vehicles and the commercial vans could be “roughly in line with 2025 total volumes” this year. Trade publication InsideEVs reported that this implies 20,000 to 25,000 R2 vehicles are planned for 2026.
Rivian will report first quarter results on April 30.
Kia’s Telluride Driving Volume
Kia America sold 207,015 vehicles in the first quarter, the highest in the automaker’s history this year, driven by the second-generation Telluride SUV.
The Telluride category jumped 20% in sales year-over-year, with the newest second generation vehicle driving first quarter volume to 35,928 units. It was Kia’s third top-selling model behind the Sportage and K4/Forte.
This was also the highest quarterly total for the Telluride since it debuted in 2019. February and March saw record sales for the SUV, with over 13,000 units sold per month.
“As we expand Telluride production capacity in the U.S., including the introduction of a new Turbo-Hybrid powertrain, we believe there is meaningful opportunity to further grow our share in one of the largest and most important automotive segments,” Eric Watson, vice president of sales operations, said in a statement.
Kia’s hybrid and electrified models continued recent sales growth, up 73% and 30%, respectively, in the first quarter.
More Details for Hyundai’s 2030 Pickup
Fountain Valley-based Hyundai Motor America reported a 3% decline in March sales while posting a record first-quarter total of 205,388 vehicles sold, up 1% from a year ago.
On April 1 at the 2026 New York International Auto Show, Hyundai presented its Boulder Concept SUV as the framework for a new midsize pickup expected by 2030—one of 36 new vehicles planned.
It features Hyundai’s first body-on-frame platform, which will be used in future production models, including the pickup truck under development.
“Body-on-frame trucks play a central role in this market, and we see a clear opportunity to bring customers a new alternative that reflects how they work, explore, and live,” CEO Randy Parker said. Â
Currently, Hyundai only has a combination of a truck and SUV called the Santa Cruz—which fell 32% in sales during the first quarter to 4,544.
Mazda Q1 Down 14%
Mazda North American Operations in Irvine reported year-to-date sales of 94,473 vehicles through March, a 14% decrease from a year ago.
Several of its models saw sales drop in double digits year-over-year, including the MX-5 Miata and a few of its CX trucks.
March sales alone fell 26% to 32,017 vehicles in total, consistent with the automaker’s expectations as last March was a record-breaking month due to a surge in sales ahead of April tariffs.
Sales in Mexico and Canada were down 17% and 23%, respectively.
One highlight was the performance of Mazda’s CX-50 SUV, which the automaker said was “attracting significant customer interest.” Over 29,000 vehicles were sold in the first quarter, up 25% from the year before. It said the month of March was the hybrid’s “best total and retail sales ever” since its 2022 debut.
