Rivian, Lucid and Tesla plan move down market

Electric vehicle makers are planning a burst of lower-cost models in the next few years to capture skeptical consumers as sales cool for battery-electric vehicles in the U.S. market.

The segment leader, Tesla, is promising affordable models next year using an updated version of its compact vehicle platform that underpins the Model Y crossover and Model 3 sedan, although the company hasn't provided details.

Tesla's lineup is aging rapidly, leading to a sales slump in the U.S. through the first half of the year. Of Tesla's five models, only the Cybertruck pickup is new. The Model Y, Model 3, Model S sedan and Model X crossover are still in their first generation. Tesla is also planning a dedicated robotaxi, without human controls.

Rivian Automotive has revealed its more affordable models, the midsize R2 crossover coming in 2026 and the R3 hatchback later in the decade. R2 pricing is expected to start around $45,000 before shipping and the R3 will start lower, Rivian said. The startup predicts flat sales this year for the R1T pickup and R1S crossover.

Lucid Motors is launching its second vehicle, the Gravity large crossover, this year, with a starting price of around $80,000 before shipping. But it's also planning more affordable vehicles in 2026 on a midsize platform, starting at around $48,000 before shipping. Lucid expects sales this year of just 9,000 for its Air large sedan.

Vietnamese automaker VinFast plans to import multiple models to the U.S. market to join the lone vehicle on sale, the VF 8 two-row crossover. VinFast said its three-row VF 9 will go on sale this year and smaller, more affordable crossovers will arrive next year. The VF 8 had 1,500 registrations in the first half of the year, S&P Global Mobility said.

Startup Scout Motors, backed by Volkswagen Group, is set to be one of the newest entrants into the EV automaker space.

Scout's initial vehicles will be an SUV and pickup. The brand has shared few details except that the models' body-on-frame platform is unique to Scout and that the vehicles will be rugged. Scout is aiming for production at its South Carolina plant in late 2026 with sales beginning soon after.

Jack Walsworth contributed to this report.