Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Costco has begun listing Rivian vehicles in its Auto Program this week, expanding its offerings as more consumers expect a digital-focused car-buying experience.
Rivian joins Tesla, Polestar, and VinFast as the latest electric vehicle (EV) maker featured on Costco’s Auto Program website, which connects members with participating dealerships offering exclusive pricing.
While Costco does not facilitate direct orders through its platform, customers can submit an inquiry form to be contacted by an approved dealer for inventory details and pricing discussions.
Pricing for Rivian’s R1S SUV through the program starts at $77,700 for the Dual-Motor version, with the Tri-Motor and Quad-Motor Max Pack models reaching up to $117,700. The R1T pickup is listed between $71,700 and $111,700, with Costco promoting “Member-Only Pricing.”
The South Korean carmaker Hyundai became the first automaker to sell vehicles through Amazon Autos’ online service in January, as digital platforms gain traction over traditional retail dealerships.
Rivian’s retail sales fell 9% year-over-year in February, according to Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska, who noted that increased incentives signal weak momentum.
“Rivian’s Demand headwinds back in focus,” he wrote. “Rivian extends retail sales losses coming in -9% yoy in February. Despite management pointing to LA fires as source of demand weakness, the elevated incentive spend points to weak momentum.”
Rivian sold 4,100 vehicles in the U.S. last month, according to Motor Intelligence data, up 34% from January but down 21% from a year earlier. The company forecasts 2024 deliveries between 46,000 and 51,000 units, falling short of most Wall Street estimates.
