On Thursday, Rivian introduces its new R2 electric SUV at their fresh Laguna showroom. This compact SUV, starting at $45,000, offers single, dual, and tri-motor options, all promising over 300 miles (482 km) of range, as highlighted by Scaringe during the event.
Compared to Rivian’s larger R1S model, the R2 measures 4,715 mm in length, and 1,700 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,935 mm. This places it more in line with the size of Tesla’s Model Y.
Even though the R2 is smaller, it still has the classic Rivian look and style, just in a more affordable package. One cool thing is its open-air design, which lets you lower the rear glass and fold the seats down, making it easy to carry big things like surfboards.
Scaringe had a surprising moment, similar to Steve Jobs’ famous announcements, where he revealed the R2’s sibling, the R3, and a more powerful version called the R3X. Rivian describes the R3 as their version of a crossover.
In less than a day, the R2 has already received over 68,000 reservations, as mentioned by Scaringe.
Rivian’s CEO expressed gratitude for the positive reaction to their new vehicles, saying they are “Overwhelmed by the wonderful response to our new vehicles: R2, R3, and R3X.” Scaringe also shared on Twitter his excitement about the strong interest in the R2 from their community.
Overwhelmed by the wonderful response to our new vehicles: R2, R3 and R3X.
In less than 24 hours, we’ve taken more than 68,000 R2 reservations. We are thrilled to see this vehicle resonate so strongly with our community! pic.twitter.com/tEIBhwlJQC
— RJ Scaringe (@RJScaringe) March 8, 2024To speed up the release of the R2, Rivian announced that it will start making the electric vehicle at its existing plant in Normal, Illinois, instead of its new one in Georgia.
This change means Rivian aims to start producing the R2 by the first half of 2026. They’ve made improvements to the Normal plant, so now it can build up to 215,000 vehicles every year, an increase from the previous capacity of 150,000.
Here are the Specification of Rivian’s R2 electric SUV:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Size | Length: 185.6 inches Height: 66.9 inches Width: 75 inches Wheelbase: 115.5 inches |
| Powertrain | Two options are available, with the larger pack offering over 300 miles of range. |
| Battery | The expected starting price around $45,000, positioning it as more affordable than many gas-powered SUVs of similar size. Reservations are currently open. |
| Pricing | The expected starting price is around $45,000, positioning it as more affordable than many gas-powered SUVs of similar size. Reservations are currently open. |
| Production | Scheduled for production in 2026 at Rivian’s factory in Illinois. |
