Rivian Offers Massive Lease Discount, Making The R1S More Affordable

Rivian EVs are expensive. But Rivian is trying to make them more affordable with hefty discounts.

The R1S SUV is now the Irvine, Calif.-based EV manufacturer’s best selling model. It’s outselling the R1T pickup by about 2 to 1, according to Cox Automotive’s Electric Vehicle Sales Report Q1 2025. And Rivian is now promoting the 2025 Dual Motor Rivian R1 vehicle with the tagline “your down payment’s on us, so you can start exploring.”

Lease offer plus EV tax incentive adds up to potential $14,000 discount

“Rivian will contribute $6,500 toward each lease of a new 2025 Dual Motor Rivian R1 vehicle with Max battery and Performance Upgrade ordered through R1 Shop between May 1, 2025 and May 31, 2025,” according to the Rivian website. Other vehicle configurations are excluded, Rivan says.

Here’s what makes the deal potentially very sweet. The $6,500 lease offer “may be combined with the $7,500 EV Lease Credit,” according to Rivian. That would add up to a tidy $14,000 discount. I confirmed this lease pricing with a Rivian salesperson.

Note that Rivians won’t always be out of the reach for more price sensitive buyers. The upcoming Rivian R2 SUV is expected to have a starting price of approximately $45,000 before taxes and fees. That is due in 2026.