On April 22, 2026, Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe drove the first customer-ready electric R2 SUV off the assembly line at the company’s Normal, Illinois, factory.
Provided by: Rivian
Rivian Automotive The company announced Wednesday that it has begun producing a new all-electric vehicle, the R2, for customers at its Normal, Illinois, plant.
The start of production marks an important milestone for the company ahead of customer deliveries scheduled for later this spring. Investors are keeping an eye on whether the company will expand production for the time being.
Rivian hopes the R2, an updated, cheaper EV similar to its flagship R1 SUV, will attract more buyers and deliver on its promise to cut costs and increase profits in the coming years.
The first R2 midsize car is a $58,000 performance model with a “launch package” that includes 330 miles of range, dual motors, special attributes, and “lifetime” access to the Autonomy+ advanced driver assistance system.
Rivian has been promoting a cheaper entry-level vehicle starting at $45,000, but said the model, which is expected to be less profitable, won’t be available until late 2027. The company’s current vehicle prices start at more than $70,000.
The R2 production announcement comes less than a week after a tornado damaged part of the company’s factory used for storage and distribution of R2 parts.
Rivian is scheduled to report first-quarter results on April 30 and update investors on R2 production.
