A Smaller, Less Expensive Rivian
Rivian, the American EV startup making the well-regarded R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck, is about to introduce a new model line. The R2 its next model line, and will slot in below the R1S and R1T in both price and size. The company has released a short teaser video, announcing that the R2 will be revealed on March 7, 2024.
Rivian R2: What We Know So Far
While it hasn’t shown any photos or shared any specifications yet of the R2, Rivian has spoken previously about its plans to introduce a smaller adventure vehicle in the same mold as the R1S and R1T. The teaser video shows that the R2 retains the distinctive face of the R1 models, with a wide light strip and two vertical “eyes” for headlights. We expect that an SUV body style will be the best-selling version, but anticipate other body shapes will be available, too, just like the R1.
We also know that the R2 will, like the R1 models in 2025, adopt the Tesla NACS (North American Charging Standard) port for EV charging. This will mean that R2 owners will be able to access Tesla’s excellent Supercharger high-speed charging network, as well as tens of thousands of other public chargers, with a plug adapter. The company announced in 2023 that, like most automakers selling vehicles in the U.S., that it would adopt the Tesla standard to improve convenience for its customers.
Smaller and lighter than the R1 models, the R2 is likely to have less horsepower than the R1, which currently offers options between 533 and 835 hp. Acceleration is likely to be a little less blistering, too: the R1 can dash to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds in its top trim. Towing capacity will be less than the R1T’s 11,000 pounds as well. All-wheel drive should be standard, with dual motors driving all four wheels.
Who is Rivian?
Rivian is a new company focused entirely on electrically-driven trucks. It’s a uniquely American success story – with facilities across the U.S. Design and engineering happens in California, while the vehicles are manufactured in Illinois, and soon Georgia. Testing and development happens in Michigan and Arizona.
The R1T, Rivian’s first product, was built from the ground up to be an EV. Since it’s not based on an existing vehicle like, for example, the Ford F-150 Lightning, it has some big advantaged in terms of packaging efficiency. The R1T and its R1S SUV cousin are built around the battery packs and drive units, liberating more space for passengers and cargo – as well as providing a low center of gravity for better performance. The R2 will share similar advantages, on a smaller footprint.
Rivian R2 Pricing and Availability
Rivian says that it will open reservations for the R2 on the day it is revealed, March 7, and we expect the first models to hit American roads by the end of 2025. While Rivian is being coy about the final pricing, it has in the past hinted at a starting MSRP of between $40,000 and $60,000. Current R1 models have a starting MSRP of $69,000, and can rise to well over $100,000. Since the R2 is made in the U.S., it should be eligible for the federal tax incentive, as well.
