Rivian has delayed the arrival of a $45,000 version of its upcoming electric SUV, the R2, which company executives say will be critical to its long-term future as a viable automaker.
The Irvine, California-based company said in a post on its website that a $45,000 version of the electric SUV that will be its most affordable model will now be released in 2027. The company said it will start releasing more expensive versions of the vehicle in the first half of 2026.
The news comes after Rivian announced in an X post on May 15 that the configurator for the R2 is live on its website and visitors there can now “explore paint colors, interior wheels, and more” as it prepares to launch the new vehicle.
What to know about R2?
The least expensive version of the R2 is expected to start at around $45,000 and be released in 2027.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said on the “On with Kara Swisher” podcast on January 29 that the R2 is important to his company’s plan to become a mass-market electric vehicle maker.
“Rivian is not just designing for the R1,” Scaring said. “If the goal was to build a company that would only make 15,000 cars per year, it would look very different as a business. But we’ve really invested in the business, thought and planned on building Rivian into a much larger company. And so, R2 needs to be successful to support the rate of capital formation of the business because of how much technology we’re developing and how much infrastructure we’re building.”
What are people saying about the R2?
Car and Driver, in its review of the R2 prototype tested, said the EV was “powered by a permanent-magnet electric motor at each axle with a combined output of 656 horsepower and 609 pound-feet of torque.”
The website states, “The ride is a bit more refined than the R1S, as the tires don’t have to run at high pressures to support the mass, plus the lower body height reduces your perception of how much the vehicle rolls in corners.” “And yes, it goes around corners.”
In a review posted after conducting its own test drive of the R2 prototype, the website InsideEVs.com said the electric SUV has “over 300 miles of range, 656 horsepower, 609 lb-ft of torque, and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.”
The website said, “That’s some serious heat for a family-friendly SUV that’s positioned not only against the ubiquitous Tesla Model Y, but potentially against mainstream gas-powered crossovers as well.”
Reporting by Keith Lang, USA TODAY/USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect