Overview
- Rivian plans a more visible manual release positioned near the electronic interior handle on the R2’s rear doors, according to Bloomberg.
- Employees and customers flagged the Gen2 R1 rear-door setup, which hides a pull-cord behind a removable panel, as confusing in emergencies.
- The company says R2 will meet or exceed federal safety standards for passenger egress and is validating production‑intent prototypes ahead of a first‑half 2026 launch.
- Pricing for the entry R2 trim is reported at about $45,000, and it remains unclear whether similar changes will be applied to current R1 models.
- U.S. safety officials opened a probe into Tesla door-handle failures after nine complaints, and China’s MIIT drafted rules targeting fully concealed electronic handles.