Why It Matters

Rivian Automotive LLC filed its third-quarter 2026 lobbying disclosure on October 5, reporting $150,000 in in-house lobbying expenses. The filing lists no specific issues, issue codes, or legislation, so the topics Rivian lobbied on during the third quarter of 2026 cannot be determined from this disclosure alone. Prior in-house filings from the first and second quarters of 2026 identified automotive and supply chain issues, consumer and commercial tax incentives, emissions standards, autonomous vehicles, manufacturing investment, and tariffs as lobbying subjects.

By the Numbers

The third-quarter 2026 report discloses $150,000 in lobbying expenses. That is down from $220,000 reported in each of the three preceding in-house filings, covering the fourth quarter of 2025 through the second quarter of 2026.

Rivian lobbies in-house. The sole listed lobbyist is Corey Ershow, Director of Federal Affairs/Principal Counsel. No third quarter 2026 filings from outside firms Klein/Johnson Group LLC or LGL Advisors LLC appear in the available records, a change from prior quarters when both firms filed on Rivian's behalf at $60,000 per quarter each.

The Agenda

Rivian's second quarter 2026 in-house amendment, the most recent filing with disclosed issue content, listed the Connected Vehicles Security Act (S. 4429) alongside automotive supply chain issues, consumer and commercial tax incentives, emissions standards, autonomous vehicles including the SELF DRIVE Act, the 45X battery investment credit, the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) program, and automotive tariffs.

Reuters reported in October 2025 that Rivian lowered its delivery outlook amid uncertainty following the lapse of federal EV tax credits, and later reported that Rivian planned to cut more than 600 jobs as EV demand weakened after expiration of the federal credit, which had provided up to $7,500 for qualifying new EVs. CNBC reported in April that Rivian and the federal government revised financing for Rivian's planned Georgia manufacturing facility to $4.5 billion, adjusting production plans to allow earlier loan draws.

Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL-16) stated in May that he engaged with DOE Secretary Wright and President Trump to secure a change allowing Rivian to continue to grow and invest in his district. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) posted in November 2024 that Rivian lost about $4 billion on 37,396 vehicles sold in the first nine months of that year, about $107,043 per vehicle, "despite these giant subsidies."

The Bottom Line

Rivian's third-quarter 2026 in-house report discloses $150,000 in lobbying expenses with no stated issues, a departure from the detailed issue descriptions in its prior filings, and a lower spending figure than the $220,000 reported in each of the three preceding in-house quarters. Whether the absence of issue disclosures reflects a change in activity or a reporting choice cannot be determined from the filing itself.

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