Overview
- At a Tuesday event at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois factory, Gov. J.B. Pritzker lauded the company as “the best EV maker in the entire world,” while Rivian did not announce when first external R2 deliveries will begin.
- Illinois is supporting R2 production with an $827 million, 30-year REV Illinois incentive package tied to Rivian’s $1.5 billion investment and job-retention commitments at the Normal site.
- Rivian began R2 production on April 22 at the Normal plant after a tornado earlier in April tore part of the facility’s roof, keeping the program on its planned timeline.
- Reservation holders can preview options in a live online configurator, and CFO Claire McDonough said configuration invitations will roll out in June on a rolling basis.
- Rivian will start with a $57,990 R2 Launch Edition, follow with a $53,990 Premium trim later in 2026, and add a $48,490 Standard model in the first half of 2027, with the originally touted $45,000 version deferred.