Overview
- RJ Scaringe, in a Tuesday Reuters interview, said Rivian is developing undisclosed R2 variants and hinted at a performance R2X and a possible pickup without formally announcing either.
- Rivian has begun volume production of the midsize R2 at its Normal, Illinois plant, with employee units already delivered and customer deliveries expected around June.
- The launch trim is priced near $58,000, with a $45,000 version targeting 275-plus miles of range planned for late 2027 to reach more mainstream buyers.
- Rivian’s new Georgia factory is being built for flexibility with an initial capacity target of about 300,000 vehicles and production slated for 2028, including support for Uber’s plan to deploy 10,000 R2-based robotaxis that year.
- Scaringe said the company is weighing U.S. production of LiDAR sensors as initial R2 units ship without the roof-mounted solid-state LiDAR, relying instead on upgraded cameras and radar amid scrutiny of Chinese suppliers.