Rivian, the Irvine-based EV maker with a knack for California luxury, finds itself straddling a fine line: wild popularity on one coast, but fierce competition in an increasingly crowded EV landscape. Rivian’s flagship R1S—an SUV priced north of $70,000—doesn’t just hold its own in California; it dominates, capturing over 23 percent of registrations in its class during the third quarter, according to the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA). “That’s not just the most popular electric SUV—it’s the most popular SUV,” Rivian’s CEO and founder R.J. Scaringe boasted in yesterday’s (Nov. 7) earnings call. Rivian’s win, to be clear, is over the California luxury sector—not all SUVs. And like most EV makers, the company faces shrinking demand in a market suddenly filled with rivals. In a move for overall market dominance, Rivian hopes to replicate the R1S fervor with their upcoming........