Overview
- Rivian started public customer deliveries of the R2 Performance this week, with the model shipped at a $57,990 starting price and first handovers occurring on Tuesday.
- The company plans lower‑priced Premium and Standard trims later in 2026 and in 2027, with the Premium listed at $53,990 and the Standard slated to arrive with a sub‑$50,000 entry price.
- CEO RJ Scaringe argues U.S. buyers are not ‘anti‑EV’ but face ‘very few great choices,’ noting Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y make up roughly half of U.S. EV sales and positioning the R2 as a brand‑distinct option.
- Rivian reiterated 2026 delivery guidance of 62,000–67,000 vehicles and a multi‑year target of about 300,000 annual units by 2028 as it ramps production in Normal, Illinois and plans a Georgia plant for later expansion.
- Investors reacted positively to the delivery milestone, with shares rising intraday by about 6%, and customers receive R2s with hardware compatible with Rivian’s Autonomy+ system while some software apps and features are being rolled out in stages.