Rivian has begun production of its R2 electric SUV. Company CEO RJ Scaringe rolled the first vehicle off the production line at the Normal, Illinois factory. However, customers won't be able to purchase these vehicles yet — initial deliveries will not begin until later in the spring.
Rivian Chief Financial Officer Claire McDonough announced that customers will only be able to configure their vehicles in June. Vehicles currently coming off the production line will be delivered to company employees. This production activity, following the tornado damage at the factory site last weekend, is seen as an attempt to reassure concerned customers and investors.
Pricing timeline: Wait until 2027 for the cheapest model.
Those who can afford the R2's starting price of $45 will have to wait a little longer. The first vehicles to roll off the production line in the spring will be the Launch Package version, priced at $57.990. The Premium trim ($53.990) will be released in late 2026. Then, in the first half of 2027, the Standard (RWD long range) version will arrive at a price of $48.490. Early customers will be able to get the cheapest version in the fall of 2027.
Rivian introduced the R2 in 2024. Smaller and lighter than the company's flagship R1 model, this two-row SUV is positioned as a competitor to the Tesla Model Y. All versions offer a range of at least 300 miles (approximately 480 kilometers) on a single charge. Each trim level features a native NACS charging port. Using DC fast chargers, the vehicle can charge from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes.
