Rivian Hints at New R2 Variants as Production Ramps Up Ahead of 2027 Launch

Rivian is preparing additional versions of its upcoming R2 electric vehicle lineup, CEO RJ Scaringe revealed shortly after the company began volume production of the highly anticipated midsize SUV. The announcement signals Rivian’s broader strategy to expand beyond its premium R1T pickup and R1S SUV models and compete more aggressively in the affordable EV market.

Speaking with Reuters, Scaringe confirmed that Rivian has not yet unveiled all planned R2 variants. While he avoided confirming rumors of an R2 pickup truck, he noted that Rivian’s new Georgia manufacturing facility was designed to support multiple vehicle configurations. “There are other variants of R2, which we haven’t shown,” Scaringe said, hinting at future additions to the electric SUV platform.

Rivian plans to begin customer deliveries of the R2 SUV around June, with the rollout starting at approximately $58,000. More affordable trims are expected later this year and into 2027. A lower-priced $45,000 version with over 275 miles of driving range is scheduled for release by late 2027, a move analysts believe could significantly increase Rivian’s appeal among mainstream EV buyers.

The EV maker is betting heavily on the R2 platform to boost sales and market share as demand for electric vehicles faces pressure from high interest rates and the removal of U.S. EV tax credits. Analysts estimate Rivian could deliver between 22,000 and 23,000 R2 vehicles this year if production scales smoothly.

Rivian has also introduced the smaller R3 crossover and performance-focused R3X models, with Scaringe teasing the possibility of an “R2X” in the future. The R2 platform will additionally play a major role in Rivian’s $1.25 billion partnership with Uber, which aims to deploy 10,000 autonomous Rivian robotaxis beginning in 2028.