Home / Technology / Rivian R2 Production Begins Amidst Tornado Recovery
Rivian R2 Production Begins Amidst Tornado Recovery
23 Apr
Summary
- Rivian's R2 SUV production has commenced at the Normal, Illinois factory.
- Customer deliveries for the R2 are slated to begin later this spring.
- Tornado damage to a factory building preceded the production rollout event.
Rivian has commenced production of its R2 electric SUV at its factory located in Normal, Illinois. CEO RJ Scaringe personally drove the first R2 off the assembly line. This event took place shortly after a tornado caused damage to a storage and logistics building at the same facility, appearing to serve as a confidence booster for customers and investors.
While production has begun, customer deliveries are not immediate. The most expensive configurations are anticipated to reach customers later this spring. Ordering and configuration for customers will not open until June. The initial vehicles rolling off the line are reportedly designated for Rivian employees.
The R2 SUV, revealed earlier in 2024, is positioned as a competitor to Tesla's Model Y. All variants are expected to offer a range of at least 300 miles per charge and feature fast-charging capabilities, reaching 80% charge in under 30 minutes with a DC fast charger.
The pricing strategy reveals a tiered release schedule. The first units available this spring are part of a Launch Package starting at $57,990. A Premium trim will arrive in late 2026 for $53,990. The Standard trim is slated for early 2027 at $48,490. The base model R2, with its advertised $45,000 starting price, is not expected to be available until late 2027.
