Rivian has started delivering its new R2 SUV to customers, marking the launch of a vehicle the company sees as central to its efforts to expand beyond the premium EV market.
Founder and chief executive RJ Scaringe has called the R2 “maybe the most important thing we’ve launched to date.”
Lower-priced SUV
The R2 starts at about $58,000 and incorporates many elements of Rivian’s larger R1 SUV in a smaller package.
The company plans to introduce:
- A version priced below $50,000 beginning in 2027.
- A more basic model priced at around $45,000 later that year.
Rivian first unveiled the R2 in 2024.
Production ramp underway
The company plans to increase production and deliveries throughout the second half of 2026.
Rivian has said it expects to deliver:
- Between 20,000 and 25,000 R2 SUVs by the end of the year.
If achieved, the company said the launch would rank among the fastest EV production ramps in the United States.
Longer term, Rivian aims to manufacture and sell hundreds of thousands of R2 vehicles annually.
The company:
- Has begun production in Normal, Illinois.
- Is building a new factory in Georgia.
- Expects the Georgia plant to begin operating in late 2028.
Challenging market
The R2 enters the market as the U.S. EV industry faces shifting policies and slowing momentum.
According to the article:
- The Trump administration has rolled back environmental regulations aimed at accelerating EV adoption.
- Congress eliminated the $7,500 federal tax credit for new electric vehicles.
- Several traditional automakers have delayed or canceled U.S. EV plans.
- Tesla’s sales have been declining.
Meanwhile, EV sales continue to grow in other markets, and Chinese manufacturers have expanded production of lower-cost models.
Earlier this year, Canada reduced import tariffs on Chinese-made EVs in an effort to address rising vehicle prices.
Scaringe has said the reduced number of new EV launches in the U.S. could create an opportunity for Rivian.
Key role in autonomy plans
Rivian also sees the R2 as a platform for future autonomous driving technology.
In December, the company outlined plans to expand the SUV’s self-driving capabilities over the coming years.
Rivian ultimately expects the R2 to be capable of driving itself.
In March, Uber signed an agreement with Rivian worth up to $1.25 billion.
The deal could see as many as:
- 40,000 R2 vehicles
deployed as robotaxis on Uber’s network.
TL;DR
Rivian has begun delivering the R2 SUV, a lower-priced model that the company views as critical to its growth and autonomous driving ambitions. Rivian aims to deliver up to 25,000 units this year and eventually deploy thousands of R2s as robotaxis.
AI summary
- Rivian has started customer deliveries of the R2 SUV.
- The vehicle starts at about $58,000.
- Cheaper versions below $50,000 and around $45,000 are planned for 2027.
- Rivian expects to deliver 20,000 to 25,000 R2s this year.
- Uber could deploy up to 40,000 R2s as robotaxis under a $1.25 billion agreement.
