Rivian R2 Production Officially Begins, Right On Schedule

The last two years have seen Rivian plug away at the Amazon delivery van while also refining the R1S SUV and R1T pickup. For a company that came out of the gate so hard, it's almost as if 2024-2026 were the public calm before the storm, with the brand planning to make massive waves with the R2 as it lands in media, dealer, and consumer hands come mid-2026.

Now that the time has come, and after endless testing in extreme environments (from Alaska to Arizona and everything in between), the R2 is here. CEO and Founder RJ Scaringe was on site for the big day and spoke to the crew heading up the R2's plant.

“We are really excited to be producing R2 for our customers,” said Scaringe. “The vehicle is incredible — it’s the result of all the hard work and dedication of the Rivian team. I can’t wait for customers to experience R2!”

This isn't to say that we will be seeing R2s on the road immediately after this news breaks; instead, Rivian is using the first batch of production-ready vehicles to confirm quality control and final validation checks. Once everything is given the a-ok, only then will the company green-light deliveries.

“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,” said Rivian Chief Operations Officer Javier Varela. “We are grateful to every member of our team who has brought this vehicle to life, and we are thrilled to begin sharing it with the world.”

As a refresher, the R2 is Rivian's second standalone model in its fully electric truck-and-SUV lineup. The company first launched the R1T pickup in late 2021, with the R1S landing in the summer of 2024. The R2 was announced in March of 2024, and big internal developments have been happening within the company ever since.

The R2 itself seems extremely promising, with a smaller footprint than the R1S yet tons of the same goodies and on-road/off-road duality of a personality. Prices will start around $45,000 for the base model that arrives in 2027, with the first release being the higher-performance and range trims that should come in with MSRPs from the high-$40k range to the high-$50k range once options are applied.

Rivian projects the R2 will be able to go at least 300 miles on a charge, and the 0-60 MPH times will be as quick as sub-3 second runs for the tri-motor version. On board the R2 are also Rivian's fully revamped suite of cameras and radar sensors, plus lidar and the brand's first in-house autonomy computer.

Needless to say, the R2 is a huge moment for Rivian and will inevitably have an enormous impact on the immediate future of the brand. And with so much fanfare surrounding Rivian, the success of the company may mean it's more than just a cult fascination and instead a hugely popular brand. Time will tell, but here's to wishing Rivian success with the R2 as production ramps up and R2s start rolling off the line.

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