Rivian has started building its R2 SUV, but buyers will need to wait a bit longer. The initial deliveries for the top-tier edition are slated for sometime later this spring.
During a ceremony on Wednesday, CEO RJ Scaringe guided the inaugural R2 electric SUV from the assembly line at Rivian's facility in Normal, Illinois. Just last weekend, a tornado struck a nearby warehouse and supply area at the plant, and the event appears aimed at calming concerns among buyers and shareholders.
"We're thrilled to start making the R2 available to customers," Scaringe stated in an official announcement. According to Rivian CFO Claire McDonough in comments to Reuters, order customization options won't open until June. Initial vehicles coming off the line now are destined for Rivian staff, as noted by Electrek.
Those eyeing the R2's entry-level price of $45,000 might face a lengthy delay. The earliest models this spring belong to the Launch Package edition, priced from $57,990. A Premium version is due in late 2026 for $53,990. The Standard rear-wheel-drive long-range option follows in early 2027 at $48,490. As for the $45,000 basic configuration, expect it toward the end of 2027.
Unveiled earlier this year, the R2 represents a more compact and efficient alternative to Rivian's R1 series, with the company marketing it as a rival to Tesla's popular Model Y. Every edition of this compact two-row SUV offers a minimum driving range of 300 miles on a full battery. All variants include a built-in NACS charging connector and can recharge from 10% to 80% capacity in less than 30 minutes via a DC fast-charging station.
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