Why Did Rivian Stock Soar 15% Today?

By Howard Smith – Dec 18, 2025 at 4:02PM ESTKey PointsOne Wall Street analyst boosted Rivian's price target by nearly 80% today. The company's upcoming R2 platform could boost the brand and increase sales next year. Rivian stock is at a 52-week high after today's surge. These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›NASDAQ: RIVNRivian AutomotiveMarket Cap$22BToday's Changeangle-down(14.86%) $2.62Current Price$20.25Price as of December 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM ETRivian surprised investors with some news last week, but the stock is rising for another reason today.Rivian Automotive (RIVN +14.86%) held its first "Autonomy & AI Day" last week, surprising investors with the news that it had developed its own in-house artificial intelligence (AI) chip. That gave investors a window into the company's path toward offering a fully autonomous vehicle. Shares have marched higher since that event, including a 15% increase today to close at a 52-week high. Today's move came after one Wall Street analyst noted Rivian's in-house technology and lifted his firm's price target by 78%. Image source: Rivian Automotive. Baird analyst Ben Kallo issued a note today, raising his rating on Rivian to "buy" and increasing his price target to $25 from $14 per share, according to Barron's. That represents a 42% gain over Wednesday's closing price. ExpandNASDAQ: RIVNRivian AutomotiveToday's Change(14.86%) $2.62Current Price$20.25Key Data PointsMarket Cap$22BDay's Range$18.32 - $20.3252wk Range$10.36 - $20.32Volume2.4MAvg Vol49MGross Margin-159.38% Kallo acknowledged Rivian's progress toward fully autonomous vehicles, but his optimism was also driven by something investors already knew. Rivian will soon be offering a new, more affordable R2 SUV. The analyst feels the stock will also benefit as the R2 drives demand and brand recognition in 2026. The new product cycle won't be the last for Rivian, either. The R3 crossover SUV will follow, potentially further boosting demand. Additionally, last week's autonomy event made it clear that Rivian seeks to deliver a vehicle with the highest level of complete autonomy. That may be a bit further into the future, but Rivian stock looks to have catalysts along the way to that ultimate goal, too. Read NextDec 18, 2025 •By Chris NeigerBetter EV Stock: Rivian vs. TeslaDec 17, 2025 •By David Jagielski, CPARivian's Stock Is On Track for Its Best Year Since Going Public.

Can It Continue Its Rally in 2026?Dec 17, 2025 •By Reuben Gregg BrewerCould Buying Rivian Stock Today Set You Up for Life?Dec 17, 2025 •By Chris NeigerShould You Buy Rivian While It's Below $20?Dec 15, 2025 •By Will EbiefungIs It Finally Time to Buy Rivian Stock?Dec 13, 2025 •By Parkev Tatevosian, CFAMassive News for Rivian Stock Investors as It Reveals Its Driverless Car StrategyAbout the AuthorHoward Smith is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering technology and industrial stocks. Prior to The Motley Fool, Howard spent nearly 30 years supervising quality and operations in the steel industry, mostly with leading steel company Nucor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from Lafayette College and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University.TMFBuilt2LastStocks MentionedRivian AutomotiveNASDAQ: RIVN$20.25 (+0.15%) $+2.62*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.Advertisement