Rivian's Q3 Expectations: Beating Wall Street... But What's Reddit Saying?

Alright, let's get this straight. Rivian "beat" Wall Street expectations? Give me a freakin' break. [https://rivian.com/investors](https://rivian.com/investors) That's the headline they want you to swallow, the one they're pushing HARD. But anyone with half a brain and a shred of financial literacy can see right through this BS.

The Numbers Game

So, revenue's up 78% year-over-year, blah, blah, blah. Automative revenue rose 47%, software and services revenue surged 324%. Okay, sounds impressive...until you realize where that "surge" in software and services revenue actually comes from. We're talking about a $154 million software and services gross profit, a $167 million improvement YoY. It's because of the Volkswagen Group joint venture.

VW is basically throwing them a lifeline. Let's be real, it's hard to trust a company when their success is so contingent on one major partnership. What happens when VW inevitably decides Rivian ain't worth the trouble anymore?

And what's with this obsession with "autonomy"? RJ Scaringe is out there talking about an "AI-centric end-to-end approach." It's the same song and dance every tech company is peddling these days. AI this, AI that...as if slapping some algorithms on a car suddenly makes it worth the exorbitant price tag.

The R2 Hype Train

Oh, and don't even get me started on the R2. "On track for a 2026 release!" they chirp. Yeah, and I'm on track to win the lottery. We've heard this story before. Promising the moon and delivering...well, let's just say Rivian's track record ain't exactly stellar. They've "completed" construction of some facilities, cool? Show me the actual cars rolling off the line, not just empty buildings.

Speaking of empty, how about those Rivian Adventure Network charging stations? "Over 850 chargers across 131 sites active in 38 states!" Sounds great, right? Except, how many of those chargers are actually working? And how many are in places where people actually WANT to go? Last time I checked, most of America ain't exactly clamoring for a charging station in the middle of nowhere, Nevada.

The Bottom Line (or Lack Thereof)

And while they're patting themselves on the back for "beating expectations," let's not forget the elephant in the room: they're still LOSING money hand over fist. Adjusted EBITDA of negative $602 million? Seriously? How long can they keep this up? Rivian Releases Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results How long can they keep this up?

I swear, the whole EV market feels like a giant house of cards waiting to collapse. Every company is promising the future, but nobody's actually delivering a sustainable business model. It's all hype, speculation, and venture capital money propping up a fundamentally flawed industry.

And am I the only one who finds it hilarious they released a "Halloween mode" for the car? A spooky swamp-themed car costume? Really? That's what they're focusing on while they're hemorrhaging cash? Talk about tone deaf.

So, What's the Real Story?

It's the same old story: overpromise, underdeliver, and distract with shiny objects. Rivian might be building cool-looking trucks, but they're also building a mountain of debt and a whole lot of hype. And frankly, I ain't buying it.