Rivian begins production on the R2 electric SUV
Source: Engadget
Production Begins
Rivian has begun production of its R2 SUV. On Wednesday, CEO RJ Scaringe drove the first electric SUV off the production line at the company’s Normal, IL factory. The rollout event was likely intended to reassure nervous customers and investors after a storage and logistics building at the plant was damaged by a tornado last weekend.
“We are really excited to be producing R2 for our customers,” Scaringe said in a news release.
Rivian CFO Claire McDonough told Reuters that customers won’t be able to configure their vehicle orders until June. According to Electrek, the first units rolling out now are being delivered to Rivian employees.
Pricing and Availability
- Launch Package (first off the line, spring 2024) – starting at $57,990
- Premium trim – expected late 2026, priced at $53,990
- Standard (RWD long‑range) – arriving in the first half of 2027, priced at $48,490
- Base‑model (the advertised $45,000 version) – not expected until late 2027
Specifications
- Revealed in 2024, the R2 is smaller and lighter than the flagship R1, positioned as Rivian’s answer to Tesla’s Model Y.
- All trims are rated for at least 300 miles per charge.
- Each model features a native NACS charging port.
- Using a DC fast charger, the battery can charge from 10 % to 80 % in under 30 minutes.
This article originally appeared on Engadget: Rivian begins production on the R2 electric SUV.