Rivian Begins Production of Second EV with R2 Deliveries Coming in Q2

by Michael Strong

Published: April 22nd, 2026

rivian begins production of second ev with r2 deliveries coming in q2

Rivian moved into the next stage of growth, kicking off production of its second vehicle, the smaller R2 SUV, at its plant in Normal, Illinois.

The new model comes only as an SUV, and is smaller than the company’s first two models, the R1T pickup and R1S sport utility vehicle. The original models are also built at the Illinois plant while the company continues construction on a second plant in north Georgia where the R2 and even smaller R3 will be produced in a few years.

Producing a second vehicle line is a milestone event, suggesting Rivian is financially stable. It’s also the company’s first attempt to take on Tesla and its EV giant, the Model Y, which is the world’s best-selling vehicle.

The R2 lineup will offer up to 656 horsepower, with a zero-to-60 mph sprint in 3.6 seconds (and incredible highway acceleration from 50-70 mph in as quick as 1.55 seconds). Rivian estimates the R2 can travel up to 345 miles on a full charge.

"We've been encouraged by the ⁠reservations that we've been receiving for the R2 product overall," Chief Financial Officer Claire McDonough told Reuters, without disclosing specifics. "We'll start to invite customers to begin to configure their vehicles in the June time frame. So, we'll have better visibility at that point."

Rivian plans to deliver the first variants late in the second quarter of this year, and it will start with the priciest version of the R2, the Launch model, which is priced at $57,990. The EV maker will begin rolling out less expensive models in stages through next year.

The R2 Premium, with a starting price of $53,990, is scheduled to arrive in the final quarter of 2026 with the R2 Standard coming in the first half of next year. It’s stick price begins at $48,490 and is the long-range model at 345 miles. The first two will travel 330 miles. A less expensive R2 Standard with an estimated range of about 275 miles and a price starting at $45,000 arrives in the second half of 2027, officials noted.

BNP Paribas analysts expect fewer than 400 deliveries this quarter, before volumes ramp to about 7,000 in the third quarter and about 15,000 in the fourth. The company’s forecast calls for as many 23,000 R2s to be delivered in 2026. The company delivered 42,247 vehicles in 2025. The delivery numbers for the R1T and R1S will fall as R2 production expands.

[Images: Rivian]

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Michael Strong

Michael Strong has spent more than 25 years writing about the automotive industry. A Detroit-area native, he’s written about everything from local car shows to product reviews to financial news. Currently he writes and edits for a variety of national and local publications. He’s also a longtime member of the Automotive Press Association and the International Motor Press Association, and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Hail Southern! Despite a love for ’70s land yachts and BMWs from the late ’80s and early ’90s, his personal vehicle is neither of those.

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5 of 22 comments

Stellantis Guy on Apr 24, 2026

I was watching a thing on the C4 Corvette ZR1 and noticed the 0-60 times...
Oh sorry, what does this have to do with Rivian.

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- Luke42 on Apr 24, 2026
  
  My Eivian R1S Quad has a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds.
  
  I didn’t think to compare it to the Corvette, since I wasn’t planning to put my family SUV against a Corvette on what ever it is the Corvette guys do.
  
  The EVs I’ve owned have both been basically American muscle cars that can really throw you into the seat and also haul the whole family.
  As far as the R2, Rivian is trying to compete with the RAV4, CRV, the Model Y — and everything else that claims to be a not-cheap & not-expensive two-row CUV. The R2 is going to steal Tesla’s lunch money, and win some sales from Toyota and Honda.
  
  I predict that Rivian will sell so many R2s them you’ll get tired of seeing R2D2 jokes on the back of them.
  
  Like
- Stellantis Guy on Apr 25, 2026
  
  I don't know how anyone can compete with the Honda CR-V. The CR-V drivers I see on the road are brain-dead. Third-gen CR-V owners must be blind (that thing is homely).
  
  Like
- EBFlexing on ur mom on Apr 25, 2026
  
  "My Eivian R1S Quad has a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds."
  Nobody cares. It could do 0-60 in one second and it would be equally meaningless.
  "I predict that Rivian will sell so many R2s"
  They won't. It's a turd just like the other Rivian golf carts. It's just a little bit smaller turd.
  
  Like Flagged comment
E**169275769 on Apr 25, 2026

It’s an ev ……Very risky …

Like Reply
- Luke42 on Apr 30, 2026
  
  That’s OK.
  
  Guys like me will own EVs first, just like we did 20 years ago with hybrids.
  I now consider hybrids obsolete unless they have a plug, but some of the traditionalists are ready to drive them now. 🤷‍♂️
  
  As they say, the future is here — but it’s not evenly distributed yet!
  
  Like

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