Rivian Achieves Milestone with Production-Ready R2 SUV Body
The $45,000 electric SUV, designed to rival Tesla's Model Y, is on track for a 2026 launch as Rivian refines cost-efficient manufacturing techniques.
- Rivian has completed the first production-ready body of its R2 SUV using production dies, marking a significant step toward its 2026 model-year debut.
- The R2 SUV is positioned as a mass-market vehicle priced at $45,000, targeting Tesla's Model Y with an expected range of over 300 miles per charge.
- The R2's production leverages megacastings, reducing the number of stamped parts by 50 and joints by 300, which simplifies manufacturing and lowers costs.
- Rivian is applying lessons from its R1 series to improve scalability and affordability in the R2's development, aiming to broaden its customer base.
- Production preparations are underway at Rivian's Normal, IL facility, which will undergo retooling later in 2025 to support the R2's launch.
The Street 
Electrek 