Rivian (RIVN) stock is trending on analyst prediction of ‘massive’ EV market gains
Rivian’s (RIVN) stock is trending again after the EV maker earned a big analyst upgrade on Monday. With a “massive market opportunity” ahead of it, Rivian may have what it takes to be a real player in the EV market.
Rivian stock bounces after analyst praise
With a unique brand, differentiated tech, and backing from Amazon and Volkswagen, Rivian stands out from the EV startup crowd.
According to Benchmark Securities, Rivan has the potential to capture a significant share of the “massive market opportunity” over the next few years.
The analyst firm initiated coverage on Rivian stock with a Buy Rating and $18 price target (via Barrons), suggesting a potential 28% upside from its previous $14 closing price.
After shutting down its Normal, IL plant in April for several months for upgrades, Rivian’s production is expected to pick up. This will help drive down selling prices while improving margins. Benchmark also highlighted Rivian’s expanding charging network.
In a note to investors, the firm pointed out that “of the EV newcomers, Rivian appears particularly well positioned with contracts from Amazon and Volkswagen.”
The next growth stage
Rivian also has “sufficient financial liquidity,” Benchmark said, as it improves profitability. Not including the recent $6.6 billion DOE loan for its plant in Georgia, “RIVN has sufficient capital to reach cash flow breakeven, by our estimates,” the note to investors stated.
The company is already seeing significant material cost reductions after launching its second-gen R1 models in Q2.
Rivian ended the third quarter with $6.7 billion in cash and equivalents, including a $1 billion convertible note from Volkswagen as part of its new joint venture.
Benchmark expects Rivian “to continue to reduce material costs, leverage fixed costs, and scale revenues” with the gen-2 vehicles and then further with R2.
Rivian is expected to launch the smaller R2 in 2026. Starting at $45,000, the electric SUV is poised to attract new buyers as it expands into new markets. It will initially be built in Normal, but Rivian will expand production with a new plant in Georgia.
The EV maker expects to build between 47,000 and 49,000 vehicles this year. Following the shutdown, Rivian can build up to 150,000 vehicles at its plant in Normal. After the R2 launches, Rivian expects production capacity to be around 215,000, with R2 accounting for 155,000 units alone.
Rivian’s partnership with Volkswagen will be a “landmark development for the industry,” according to CEO RJ Scaringe. The total deal is worth up to $5 billion, a “meaning financial opportunity,” Scaringe said.
Rivian’s stock is up almost 13% on Monday following the new analyst coverage. Although RIVN shares are up 40% over the past month, they are still over 30% in 2024.
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Zevtron, ParkMobile, and Athena Partners Strategy Group are together supporting charging site owners and EV drivers affected by Shell Recharge’s shutdown of its EV charger software.
Shell Recharge is discontinuing its Shell Sky software in third-party commercial EV chargers in the US and Canada. It will service third-party commercial fleet EV chargers until April 30; after that, it’s lights out, leaving hundreds of EV charging stations across the US inoperable.
Zevtron, ParkMobile, and Athena Partners Strategy Group is deploying Zevtron’s white-label EV charging software across the former Shell Recharge network to restore full operational capacity to these chargers.
“Shell’s exit has left hundreds of chargers effectively stranded,” said Chris Mckenty, SVP of sales & marketing at Zevtron. “Our goal is to rapidly restore these stations to full functionality while enhancing their capabilities with flexible branding, seamless payment options, and improved management tools.”
ParkMobile will extend its capabilities to process EV charging sessions so users can both park and charge. “Integrating EV charging parking sessions into ParkMobile simplifies access for millions of drivers who already rely on our platform,” said Andy Harman, vice president of sales at ParkMobile.
Athena Partners Strategy Group will work closely with cities, businesses, and property owners to deploy the new solution efficiently. “We see this as a major opportunity to not only restore EV charging infrastructure but also improve it for the long term,” said Nick Stanton, managing partner of Athena Partners Strategy Group.
The partnership says it’s a “turnkey solution to ensure uninterrupted service, enhanced user experience, and improved revenue potential.”
For more information on transitioning Shell Recharge EV chargers to the Zevtron-powered network,
contact Chris Mckenty at cmckenty@zevtron.com
Read more: Shell Recharge exits the US EV charger software market
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Environment
Volkswagen ID.4 breaks into the top 5 best-selling EVs in the US after sales surged in January
The Volkswagen ID.4 was the third best-selling EV in the US last month, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Volkswagen’s electric SUV made a comeback after sales surged over 650% in January.
Volkswagen ID.4 was the third best-selling EV in January
Although ID.4 sales fell by 55% last year after Volkswagen halted production and deliveries in September due to a recall over faulty door handles, the EV made a triumphant return in 2025.
Volkswagen sold 4,979 ID.4’s in the US last month, up 653% from January 2024. To put it in perspective, VW only sold 646 ID.4 models in the fourth quarter and just over 17,000 in 2024. At this rate, ID.4 sales are on pace to reach nearly 60,000 by the end of 2025.
According to Cox Automotive’s latest EV Market Monitor report, the ID.4 was the third best-selling EV in the US last month, behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.
The Honda Prologue and Tesla Cybertruck rounded out the top five. Combined, the top five selling EV models accounted for 54% of total sales in the US last month.
| Rank | Model |
| 1. | Tesla Model Y |
| 2. | Tesla Model 3 |
| 3. | Volkswagen ID.4 |
| 4. | Tesla Cybertruck |
| 5. | Honda Prologue |
Over 102,200 electric vehicles were sold in the US in January, up nearly 30% from January 2024. Although sales were down from the record 132,392 sold in December 2024, a drop was expected over typical seasonal trends.
Tesla doesn’t provide a breakdown of US sales, so we will not know exact sales numbers until registration data is released.
Honda’s electric SUV continues to take the market by storm, with 3,744 Prologues sold in January. After delivering the first models last March, the Honda Prologue became the seventh best-selling EV in the US last year, with over 33,000 models sold.
Volkswagen announced the ID.4 was back on sale last month, with the “aim of re-instating the ID.4 to its prior position as one of the best-selling electric vehicles in the US and Canada.” It looks like it’s happening quicker than expected.
The new entry-level 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 RWD Pro model starts at $45,095, while the AWD Pro costs $48,995. Both are powered by an 82 kWh battery. Volkswagen said the 62 kWh battery will be available later this year. The larger battery provides an EPA-estimated range of up to 291 miles.
VW’s base models feature a gloss black grille, black roof rails, and a 12.9″ infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. The AWD version has 20″ wheels, a heated windshield, and a tow hitch.
The ID.4 Pro S RWD starts at $50,195, and the AWD model has a sticker price of $54,095. It gets an added illuminated VW logo at the front and rear, premium LED projector headlights, a panoramic fixed glass roof, power tailgate, and more.
Volkswagen’s range-topping 2025 ID.4 Pro S Plus is only available in AWD and starts at $57,295. The Plus trim features 21-inch wheels, added exterior design elements, heated rear seats, a premium Harman Kardon audio system, and an Area View (an overhead view camera).
Both electric SUVs feature some of the biggest discounts on the market right now. To make room for 2025 models, VW is offering close-out prices on the 2024 ID.4, with leases starting as low as $189 per month. However, the Honda Prologue is hard to pass up, starting at just $209 per month. Ready to check them out for yourself? You can use our links below to find deals on the Volkswagen ID.4 and Honda Prologue in your area today.
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