Rivian Aims To Make 20,000 R2 SUVs This Year

Rivian says its upcoming R2 SUV is on schedule for its first customer deliveries in the second quarter of 2026.

With the average new vehicle transaction price around $50,000 and five-seat SUVs dominating sales charts, Rivian believes the R2 hits a sweet spot for buyers who want an electric vehicle that works as both a daily driver and a weekend adventure machine.

Production preparations are underway at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois plant. The company recently completed the first manufacturing validation builds of the R2 using full production equipment in its newly expanded 1.1-million-square-foot facility. That’s a key milestone before customer deliveries begin next year.

The launch version will be a Dual-Motor all-wheel-drive model capable of 0–60 mph in 3.6 seconds with more than 300 miles of range. In short, it’s designed to feel like a scaled-down R1S, but aimed at a broader audience.

The R2 will also introduce Rivian’s next-generation driver assistance hardware. It will feature an updated sensor setup that includes cameras, radar, and LiDAR, along with Rivian’s new in-house computer chip called RAP1. The company says this system will dramatically increase processing power compared to its current vehicles and allow for more advanced hands-free driving features over time.

Rivian also plans to launch its new voice system, called Rivian Assistant, across its lineup in early 2026. The assistant is designed to better understand driver requests and context — for example, integrating with calendars to help navigate to upcoming appointments.

Rivian delivered just over 42,000 vehicles in 2025 and is guiding for 62,000 to 67,000 deliveries in 2026 as R2 production ramps up. The company ended the year with more than $6 billion in liquidity, but it continues to post losses as it invests heavily in new products and factory expansion.

While fully autonomous driving isn’t here yet, Rivian says the R2’s hardware is being built with future capability in mind.

This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.