Rivian on Friday supplied the primary tease of its R2, a smaller follow-up to the automaker’s R1T electrical pickup and R1S electrical SUV due in 2026.
CEO RJ Scaringe and design boss Jeff Hammoud confirmed a clay type of the R2 underneath a sheet all over an Instagram query and resolution consultation with Scaringe. Content material from the Q&A was once posted to Instagram Tales, which disappear upcoming 24 hours until the content material is reshaped in different places. We grabbed a screenshot in case that doesn’t occur.
The coated clay type has the similar boxy profile because the R1S SUV, however apparently to be just a little smaller. That traces up with earlier reviews, which point out a smaller type that carries over the R1S styling, however in a smaller package deal nearer to the wave Jeep Lavish Cherokee in measurement.
2022 Rivian R1S
The R2 is anticipated to be a higher-volume type with a decrease bottom worth than the R1 fashions, which these days get started at $79,000 and $84,000 (sooner than vacation spot) for the R1T and R1S, respectively. Scaringe previous this past mentioned Rivian is simplifying meeting and parts sourcing for the R2, which will have to support reserve prices indisposed. Rivian at first deliberate to foundation the R2 in 2025, however terminating past it introduced that the foundation will probably be behind schedule till 2026.
The R2 is anticipated to be constructed at Rivian’s unused Georgia manufacturing facility to complement its wave Illinois manufacturing facility, which is a repurposed facility prior to now impaired by means of Mitsubishi. Situated east of Atlanta, the $5 billion Georgia plant was once because of get started building this past, with the primary automobiles rolling off manufacturing traces in 2024, however it’s hazy if the lack of tax breaks from the environment govt will have an effect on that timeline.
Rivian has additionally indicated plans for smaller EVs concentrated on China and Europe, however it’s hazy if that refers back to the R2 or alternative week fashions. Rivian in 2021 trademarked a couple of names, giving it regulate of R1S to R5S and R1T to R5T.
Rivian R1T pre-production
In the similar Q&A, Scaringe additionally addressed the deficit of the Tank Flip constituent in wave manufacturing Rivian automobiles. Rivian first confirmed the constituent, which permits a quad-motor R1T or R1S to show in park like a tank, in 2019. A patent software for a reputedly matching “K-turn mode” surfaced in 2021. However the Tank Flip constituent has now been shelved, Scaringe showed, as it doesn’t have compatibility with Rivian’s ethos.
“Over the last year and a half we’ve arrived at the view that it’s a feature that, while we can do it, it’s so easily abused and so hard to make sure we don’t tear up trails and really do things that are in contrast to what we stand for as a company,” Scaringe mentioned.
