Photo: Rivian
Rivian is working on the R2. It will be a completely new model, smaller and cheaper than the R1, and designed to fight the Tesla Model Y. The startup is hoping to finally make a 180-degree shift toward profitabiltity.
The carmaker has been working on the R2 for quite a while and has been quietly teasing it. The brand even announced the arrival of a new model last year, released a story video in Mary 2023 showing a model of clay, and has recently filed a patent for the headlights of the future vehicle.
As shown in the sketches in the patent application, the headlights of the R2 should be smaller and round, while the front light units of the R1S and R1T are oval. So, one thing is for sure: the R2 is not going to look like a mini R1.
Back in December 2023, the automaker's CEO RJ Scaring suggested that the R2 will start anywhere between $45,000 and $55,000, which is around half the price of the most affordable R1S SUV, which starts at $92,000.
Furthermore, Scaringe previews the arrival of the R2, claiming that it will be Rivian's "Model 3 moment," most likely referring to both the affordability, profitability, and the hype built around the new-gen compact sedan.
The R2 will slot in a segment where the Tesla Model Y has been setting the standards for years. The Model Y was last year's best-selling vehicle in Europe. The Kia EV6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 are also going to give the R2 a run for its money.
The upcoming model will sit on a brand-new platform and should also be less potent than the R1S. The entry-level R1S now comes with 533 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque, does the 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) run in 4.5 seconds, and has an EPA-estimated range between 260 and 400 miles (between 418 and 644 kilometers), depending on the battery pack it is equipped with.
At the opposite end of the range, there is the 835-horsepower, 908-pound-feet version that is able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds flat and drive as far as 321 miles (571 kilometers) on a single charge.
All of these confirm that the arrival of the R2 is imminent and will happen soon. As soon as March 7, to be precise, during an event set to take place in Laguna Beach, California. The model will not enter production before 2026 toward the third quarter of the year. The production of the upcoming SUV is linked to the future Rivian factory.
To keep up with the expected demand, Rivian is building a new plant, following a $5 billion investment. The facility will operate in Georgia and should be ready before the R2 is ready. The upcoming plant will span approximately 1,800 acres and will create around 8,000 jobs in the area for both future factory personnel and entities that will be part of the supply chain.
Rivian knows that it has to expand its portfolio if it wants to expand its customer range and stop bleeding money. Offering a single SUV and a pickup truck derived from it for the past two years, with none having the credentials of being affordable, the startup is not going to turn profitable any time soon.
Therefore, rolling out entry-level models, smaller, cheaper, and less potent, might help the brand’s profitability and.
As shown in the sketches in the patent application, the headlights of the R2 should be smaller and round, while the front light units of the R1S and R1T are oval. So, one thing is for sure: the R2 is not going to look like a mini R1.
Back in December 2023, the automaker's CEO RJ Scaring suggested that the R2 will start anywhere between $45,000 and $55,000, which is around half the price of the most affordable R1S SUV, which starts at $92,000.
Furthermore, Scaringe previews the arrival of the R2, claiming that it will be Rivian's "Model 3 moment," most likely referring to both the affordability, profitability, and the hype built around the new-gen compact sedan.
The R2 will slot in a segment where the Tesla Model Y has been setting the standards for years. The Model Y was last year's best-selling vehicle in Europe. The Kia EV6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 are also going to give the R2 a run for its money.
The upcoming model will sit on a brand-new platform and should also be less potent than the R1S. The entry-level R1S now comes with 533 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque, does the 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) run in 4.5 seconds, and has an EPA-estimated range between 260 and 400 miles (between 418 and 644 kilometers), depending on the battery pack it is equipped with.
At the opposite end of the range, there is the 835-horsepower, 908-pound-feet version that is able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds flat and drive as far as 321 miles (571 kilometers) on a single charge.
All of these confirm that the arrival of the R2 is imminent and will happen soon. As soon as March 7, to be precise, during an event set to take place in Laguna Beach, California. The model will not enter production before 2026 toward the third quarter of the year. The production of the upcoming SUV is linked to the future Rivian factory.
To keep up with the expected demand, Rivian is building a new plant, following a $5 billion investment. The facility will operate in Georgia and should be ready before the R2 is ready. The upcoming plant will span approximately 1,800 acres and will create around 8,000 jobs in the area for both future factory personnel and entities that will be part of the supply chain.
Rivian knows that it has to expand its portfolio if it wants to expand its customer range and stop bleeding money. Offering a single SUV and a pickup truck derived from it for the past two years, with none having the credentials of being affordable, the startup is not going to turn profitable any time soon.
Therefore, rolling out entry-level models, smaller, cheaper, and less potent, might help the brand’s profitability and.
This is it. Get ready to meet R2 on March 7th. pic.twitter.com/N2CKDTTZ5I
— Rivian (@Rivian) February 5, 2024
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