XML 26 R10.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.24.0.1
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
For each accounting topic that is addressed in a separate footnote, the description of the accounting policy can be found in the related footnote. Other significant accounting policies are described below.
Use of Estimates

Accounting estimates are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. These estimates require the use of judgments and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses in the periods presented. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, inventory valuation, property, plant, and equipment, warranty reserves, leases, income taxes, stock-based compensation, and commitments and contingencies. The Company believes that the accounting estimates and related assumptions employed by the Company are appropriate and the resulting balances are
reasonable under the circumstances. However, due to the inherent uncertainties involved in making estimates, the actual results could differ from the original estimates, requiring adjustments to these amounts in future periods.
Accounts Receivable, Net

Accounts receivable primarily consist of amounts due from customers from the sale of EVs and are reported at the invoiced amount, less an allowance for any potential uncollectible amounts. The Company’s allowance for uncollectible amounts was not material as of December 31, 2022 and 2023.
Derivative Instruments

In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to global market risks, including the effect of changes in certain commodity prices, interest rates, and foreign currency exchange rates, and may enter into derivative contracts, such as forwards, options, swaps, or other instruments, to manage these risks. Derivative instruments are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in either Other current assets or Current portion of lease liabilities and other current liabilities and are measured at fair value. They are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using observable inputs other than quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

For commodity contracts, the Company records gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value in “Cost of revenues” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and cash flows in “Cash flows from operating activities” in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company also may enter into master netting agreements with its counterparties to allow for netting of transactions with the same counterparty. The Company does not utilize derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

The Company has entered into commodity contracts and the resulting asset, liability, and aggregate notional amount is not material as of December 31, 2022 and 2023. These derivatives are economic hedges used to manage overall price risk and have not been designated as hedging instruments. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023, losses and gains resulting from changes in fair value were not material.
Revenues

Vehicle Sales

The Company’s revenues primarily include revenue from the sale of EVs and specific services that meet the definition of a performance obligation, including over-the-air (“OTA”) vehicle software updates. Revenue from the sale of EVs is recognized at a point in time when control transfers to the customer, which generally occurs upon delivery. Revenue from the sale of EDVs is recognized in accordance with a bill and hold arrangement, under which risk of ownership has been transferred to the customer but delivery is delayed at the request of the customer. In such cases, the EDVs are separately identified as belonging to the customer, ready for physical delivery to the customer, and the Company does not have the ability to sell the EDVs to another customer. As of December 31, 2023, all EDVs under this bill and hold arrangement have been delivered.

Payment for EV sales is typically received at or prior to delivery or according to payment terms customary to the business. Sales tax is excluded from the measurement of the transaction price. As the OTA vehicle software updates represent a stand ready obligation to provide these services, revenue related to OTA vehicle software updates is recognized ratably throughout the performance period, beginning when control of the vehicle is transferred to the customer and continuing through the estimated useful life of the EV. The standalone selling prices of performance obligations are estimated by considering costs to develop and deliver the good or service, third-party pricing of similar goods or services, and other available information. The transaction price is allocated among the performance obligations in proportion to the standalone selling prices.

Other Revenues

The Company generates tradable credits from various regulatory standards primarily related to zero-emission vehicles and greenhouse gas. The Company sells these credits to other manufacturers. Revenue is recognized at the time control of the regulatory credits is transferred to the purchasing party, and payment is typically received in accordance with customary
payment terms. Other revenues consist primarily of sales of vehicle trade-ins (“remarketing”), repair and maintenance services, vehicle accessories, and other complementary services.

Contract Liabilities

The Company recognizes contract liabilities when payments are received or due before the related performance obligation is satisfied. The Company’s contract liabilities are primarily related to payments for vehicles collected prior to delivery of the EV, generally satisfied within one quarter or less, OTA vehicle software updates, generally satisfied over the estimated useful life of the EV, and extended service contracts, satisfied over the coverage period. The Company’s contract liabilities exclude fully-refundable customer deposits. The following table summarizes the Company’s contract liabilities recorded by line item on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

December 31, 2022December 31, 2023
Current portion of lease liabilities and other current liabilities$37 $88 
Other non-current liabilities32 133 
Total contract liabilities$69 $221 

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues primarily relates to the cost of EVs and includes direct parts, material and labor costs including stock-based compensation, manufacturing overhead (e.g., depreciation of machinery and tooling), shipping and logistics costs, and reserves including for estimated warranty costs related to the production of consumer and commercial vehicles, adjustments to write down the carrying value of inventory when it exceeds its estimated net realizable value (“NRV”), losses on firm purchase commitments, and to adjust for excess and obsolete inventory based upon expectations of forecasted demand.
Warranty and Field Service Actions

The Company provides a manufacturer’s warranty on new consumer vehicles. A warranty reserve is accrued at the time of sale or once a specific field service action has been identified. The amount accrued is comprised of management’s estimate of the projected costs to repair, replace, or adjust defective component parts under the applicable warranty period and identified field service actions. These estimates are based on an analysis of actual claims incurred to date and expectations of the nature, frequency, and costs of future claims by vehicle model, including relevant benchmark data. The Company reevaluates the adequacy of the warranty reserve on a regular basis and makes revisions when necessary. Warranty estimates are inherently uncertain, especially given the Company’s limited history of sales, and more historical experience or updates to benchmarks and projections may cause material changes to the warranty reserve in the future.

The following table summarizes the Company’s warranty and field service action reserve recorded by line item on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

December 31, 2022December 31, 2023
Current portion of lease liabilities and other current liabilities$30 $91 
Other non-current liabilities70 184 
Total warranty reserve$100 $275 

Warranty expense is recorded as a component of “Cost of revenues” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company’s warranty and field service action activity for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022 was
primarily for warranties issued during the period. The following table presents the warranty and field service action activity for the year ended December 31, 2023 (in millions):

Year Ended December 31, 2023
Beginning balance$100 
Warranties issued in period233 
Adjustments to pre-existing warranties(22)
Warranty costs incurred(36)
Ending balance$275 
Concentration of Risk

Counterparty Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of counterparty credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, restricted cash, customer deposits, derivative instruments, and debt. The Company is exposed to credit risk on cash to the extent that a balance with a financial institution exceeds Federal Deposit Insurance Company insurance limits. The Company is exposed to credit risk on cash equivalents and short-term investments to the extent that counterparties are unable to settle maturities or sales of investments and on customer deposits to the extent that counterparties are unable to complete the corresponding purchase transaction. The Company is exposed to credit risk on derivative instruments to the extent that counterparties are unable to settle derivative asset positions and on debt to the extent that the senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (“ABL Facility”) lenders are not able to extend credit. The degree of counterparty credit risk varies based on many factors including the duration of the transaction and the contractual terms of the agreement.

As of December 31, 2022 and 2023, all of the Company’s cash, typically in amounts exceeding insured limits, was distributed across several large financial institutions that the Company believes are of high credit quality. Management evaluates and approves credit standards and oversees the credit risk management function related to cash equivalents, short-term investments, and customer deposits. As of December 31, 2022 and 2023, the counterparties to the Company’s derivative instruments and the ABL Facility lenders are financial institutions that the Company believes are of high credit quality.

Supply Risk

The Company is subject to risks related to its dependence on its suppliers, the majority of which are single-source providers of input materials or product components for the Company’s products. Any inability or unwillingness of the Company’s suppliers to deliver necessary input materials or product components, including semiconductors, at timing, prices, quality, and volumes that are acceptable to the Company could have a material impact on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Fluctuations in the cost of input materials or product components and supply interruptions or shortages could materially impact the Company’s business.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets (Held-and-Used Long-Lived Assets)

The Company reviews property, plant, and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be fully recoverable. Events that trigger a test for recoverability include material adverse changes in projected revenues and expenses, present cash flow losses combined with a history of cash flow losses or a forecast that demonstrates significant continuing losses, significant negative industry or economic trends, a current expectation that a long-lived asset group will be disposed of significantly before the end of its useful life, a significant adverse change in the manner in which an asset group is used or in its physical condition, or when there is a change in the asset grouping. When an indicator of impairment is present, the Company assesses the risk of impairment based on an estimate of the undiscounted cash flows at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows exist against the carrying value of the asset group. Impairment exists when the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the estimated future undiscounted cash flows generated by those assets. The Company records an impairment charge for the difference between the carrying value of the asset group and its estimated fair market value. Depending on the
asset, estimated fair market value may be determined either by use of a discounted cash flow model or by reference to estimated selling values of assets in similar condition.
Employee Benefit Plan

The Company provides a defined contribution plan for substantially all employees in the United States in which the Company provides discretionary matching contributions. The Company made matching contributions to the defined contribution plan for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023 which were not material.
Research and Development Costs

R&D costs consist primarily of personnel costs for teams in engineering and research, prototyping expenses, consulting and contractor expenses, amortized equipment costs, and allocation of indirect costs. Most R&D costs are expensed as incurred.
Selling, General, and Administrative

Advertising costs are recorded in “Selling, general, and administrative” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as they are incurred. The advertising costs recognized during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023 were not material.
Other Expenses

Upon the IPO, the Company donated approximately 8 million shares of Class A common stock and $20 million cash to Forever by Rivian, Inc., a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization (“Forever by Rivian”). As a result, $663 million was recorded in “Other expenses” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations during the year ended December 31, 2021.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Upcoming Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU“) 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting provides optional expedients and exceptions to the accounting for contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The expedients and exceptions provided do not apply to contract modifications made and most hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2024. The Company adopted the provisions of the ASU during the year ended December 31, 2023 with no impact to the consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2023, the Company does not have any LIBOR-based debt outstanding.

ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures updates required disclosures of significant reportable segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM and included within each reported measure of a segment's profit or loss. This ASU also requires disclosure of the title and position of the individual identified as the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measures of a segment’s profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, though early adoption is permitted. Adoption of the ASU should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the presentational impact of this ASU and expects to adopt in the year ended December 31, 2024.
ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures enhances the transparency and usefulness of income tax disclosures. The updates are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 on a prospective basis, though early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the presentational impact of this ASU and expects to adopt in the year ended December 31, 2025.