The new R2 SUV could hit American driveways by June, with early production underway in Illinois. The mid-size SUV appears to be on track to reach its first customer driveways as early as June, thanks to the rapid expansion of Rivian’s production facility in Normal, Illinois. 6 million-square-foot section of Rivian’s Illinois plant, and the first validation build vehicles have already started rolling off the line.
These vehicles are production-intent, not pre-production prototypes, and will help validate key factory processes before Rivian can start building customer vehicles at scale. The EV maker has built the new manufacturing center in just 11 months, and at full capacity, the site will be able to produce up to 215,000 vehicles a year, including 155,000 R2s. However, Rivian didn’t originally plan to build the R2 in Illinois, instead planning to assemble it at a forthcoming $5 billion factory in Georgia.
The EV maker has yet to announce final specifications for the R2 and likely won’t do so until closer to its launch. When the SUV first appeared in prototype form two years ago, the company confirmed it would ride on an all-new midsize platform and be offered in single-, dual-, and tri-motor configurations. The R2 will use 4,695-type cylindrical battery cells and, in its base form, deliver more than 300 miles of range.
It will also feature a built-in NACS port as standard, giving it access to Tesla’s Supercharger network without the need for adapters or retrofits. Perhaps the most important detail is still the price, with Rivian initially projecting a starting MSRP of around $45,000. Holding that price point could be key to making the R2 not just another statement piece, but a genuinely competitive offering in the heart of the EV market.
The upcoming R2 SUV is crucial for Rivian's success, as it will determine whether the brand can establish itself as a serious mass-market player in the US. If successful, it could be a major turning point for the company.
