- Rivian has begun building the R2, with first customer deliveries expected this spring.
- The R2 is Rivian’s first vehicle designed to compete in the mainstream market.
- Rivian’s direct-sales model puts it on a collision course with traditional dealerships.
Rivian confirmed this week that production of the R2 has begun at its Normal, Illinois, manufacturing plant. The launch follows more than two years of development and validation testing, including extreme-weather trials in Alaska and Arizona. The R2 is on track to reach customers before summer.
“Building R2 represents a major advance in engineering excellence and manufacturing efficiency, driving meaningful improvements in cost and quality that position Rivian as a leader in the future of transportation,” Chief Operations Officer Javier Varela said.
The electric-powered R2 is designed to compete in the mainstream SUV and crossover segment. Rivian says the R2 was built it to perform equally well off-road and in daily urban driving. It features a new mid-size platform with three powertrain configurations, single-motor RWD, dual-motor AWD and tri-motor AWD, delivering up to 656 horsepower, 345 miles of range, and capable of going from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds.
The Rivian R2 Performance Launch Edition is priced at $57,990, excluding a $1,495 destination fee. The starting price for the upcoming base model is listed at $48,490, and it is expected to become available in 2027. The price for the premium trim model starts at $53,990 with a release set for late 2026. The comparatively lower price points are expected to target a broader section of consumers than its debut models, the R1T and R1S, both priced above $70,000.
Rivian sells directly to consumers, bypassing franchised dealerships entirely. That model won’t change with the R2. But the vehicle’s more accessible price point will push Rivian into direct competition with mainstream crossovers sold through traditional dealer networks for the first time.
The R2 was first revealed in March 2024 at an event in Laguna Beach, California. Spring deliveries will be Rivian’s first real test of whether its brand loyalty can scale beyond its premium early-adopter base.
