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- Rivian confirmed that it laid off less than 2% of its workforce on Tuesday.
- The carmaker faces a crucial year as it launches the R2 midsize SUV, its most important product.
- The carmaker says it remains confident in the new car after its June 9 launch.
Rivian is doing a small round of layoffs hot on the heels of its latest vehicle launch.
The EV maker is cutting less than 2% of its workforce amid a make-or-break year.
"We recently restructured a handful of teams within Rivian as we work to profitably scale our business," a company spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement.
The cuts affected some teams in Rivian's service and customer organization, which includes go-to-market functions such as sales and marketing, the spokesperson said. The company said the changes are intended to help Rivian scale more efficiently as it works toward building a healthy and profitable business.
A person familiar with the layoffs told Business Insider that some affected employees were notified directly by managers.
The layoffs come as Rivian launches its third — and most important — consumer product, the midsize R2 SUV. The company's two other passenger vehicles, the R1T pickup and the R1S three-row SUV, have helped establish Rivian as a premium EV brand but have not made the company profitable on a net income basis.
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Rivian began delivering the first R2s to customers on June 9. The midsize SUV slots into America's most popular vehicle segment and competes with Tesla's Model Y, one of the world's best-selling cars.
The spokesperson said Rivian remains confident in the R2 and the company's ability to deliver and ramp the five-seater to customers.
Affected workers are eligible for rehire and are encouraged to apply for other open roles at Rivian, the spokesperson said. The company is providing severance packages, benefits, and career-transition services.