More R2 models coming and R2X possible says RJ Scaringe (Reuters News)

[kanundrum]

https://www.reuters.com/business/au...riants-its-more-affordable-r2-evs-2026-05-06/

“There are other variants of R2, which we haven't shown," CEO RJ Scaringe said in an interview with Reuters, when asked about a pickup variant of R2.

"What we're building in Georgia allows for different variations," he said, referring to a ⁠new plant where Rivian will eventually expand production of R2 vehicles. Scaringe did not disclose details on what the other variants would look like.

"So clearly there could be an ⁠R2X," Scaringe said. "There's going to be combinations," he continued, adding, "I want to be careful not to announce the program."

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[Great Gatsby]

Variants, plural? I dig it.

Come on, RJ. Spill the beans. Show us something. Keep the hype machine going!

 

[portdirect]

Hasn’t the R3 always been a R2 variant? And on an old investor deck I think there was another thing ‘under wraps’ for the midsize platform.

 

[savethemanual]

Yes, it's been known they have more coming. Good to see this back in the news cycle though, hopefully they reveal a new model in the pipeline soon!

 

[ACDC]

This is great news and fact that RJ mentions R2X by name means it's all but certain. Here's some R2X image renderings and video by @TBCreative67 from last year from his thread here ---

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/r2x-yes-please-rj-preview-renderings.26057/

 

[rogersmj]

This is great news and fact that RJ mentions R2X by name means it's all but certain

I mean, they'd be insane not to...boxy off-roaders have been a hot market for years. Toyota with the 4Runner and Land Cruiser, Ford Bronco, Jeep of course, Nissan just announced they're bringing back the Xterra, hell Honda has the "Trailsport" version of the Passport for crying out loud and it sells like hotcakes even though no one who owns that in suburbia will ever leave the pavement.

The off-road variants of these vehicles have like $2-3k of extra parts cost, if that, but sell for a significant premium. The profit margin (not to mention the brand image) of selling these variants is juicy. Rivian will absolutely do an R2X and they won't be able to make enough of them.

 

[VandalSibs]

R2T! R2T! R2T! R2T!

(Not that I personally need a smaller truck, I just think it would be good for Rivian to have something to compete against the truck that Ford will introduce at some point...)

 

[SadHill]

I hope they keep it under wraps. That way when they announce it they can say, orders open tomorrow and deliveries start next week. Like when Apple introduces new products. Sucks to wait 2+ years for new vehicles

 

[savethemanual]

I hope they keep it under wraps. That way when they announce it they can say, orders open tomorrow and deliveries start next week. Like when Apple introduces new products. Sucks to wait 2+ years for new vehicles

Well, it's going to be two years. Any new models announced will be manufactured at the GA plant, which won't be kicking out vehicles until 2028.

 

[SadHill]

Well, it's going to be two years. Any new models announced will be manufactured at the GA plant, which won't be kicking out vehicles until 2028.

Right. So RJ, keep it under your hat until it is ready!

 

[Jeremy3292]

Yeah so this is awesome but expected. They will phase out the R1S and R1T over the next 5 years and build everything off the R2 platform. This is the exact same story as Tesla. Model S and X started getting old for the premium price point when all the new tech and styling was incorporated into Model 3/Y, so they S/X seemed old in comparison for a lot more money also so then they were discontinued. The next 5 years will be big for Rivian as they move into a mainstream, solid brand.

This is 2029 at earliest though. GA factory has to be built, brought online, R2 and R3 have to be ramped, and then variants can be made. Don't forget they owe Uber thousands of R2's also.

 

[BrayBay]

Hasn’t the R3 always been a R2 variant? And on an old investor deck I think there was another thing ‘under wraps’ for the midsize platform.

Was this the one you were thinking about?

 

[Wat5]

They should work on making the already-announced variants available first.

 

[VandalSibs]

They will phase out the R1S and R1T over the next 5 years

Rivian has stated many times in the past that they will keep the R1T and R1S as their halo vehicles. They will evolve for sure, but they aren't going away.

 

[VandalSibs]

They should work on making the already-announced variants available first.

Like they already are? Rivian is right on schedule, as announced over two years ago. Even with the changes in the political and economic situations and a freakin' tornado directly hitting the factory, they are on track.

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