Rivian delivered 12,194 electric vehicles in the second quarter, besting its guidance in what's been a bruising year for EVs in the U.S.

The company had predicted deliveries of 9,000 to 11,000 for the quarter. It delivered 10,661 vehicles in the second quarter a year ago.

It's a make-or-break year for Irvine, Calf.-based Rivian. The automaker, which has never turned an annual profit, aims to broaden its appeal with a midsize crossover that competes directly with Tesla's Model Y called the Rivian R2. The R2 is more affordable than Rivian's past models; a well-optioned version starts around $58,000.

The jump this year comes amid a downturn in U.S. EV sales following the end of federal incentives.

Rivian raised its full-year forecast to between 65,000 and 70,000 deliveries, up from 62,000 to 67,000.