Rivian R2 production has started despite tornado damage to factory
TechCrunch • • business
Key Points:
- Rivian has produced the first customer-ready R2 SUVs at its Illinois factory shortly after an EF-1 tornado damaged part of the plant, but the company does not anticipate any delays in the R2 rollout.
- CEO RJ Scaringe confirmed that despite the tornado's impact on the plant's roof and operations, Rivian is maintaining its production schedule and adapting material logistics accordingly.
- The R2 is a critical vehicle for Rivian, aimed at mass-market customers with a significantly lower price point than its current R1 models, and is expected to help the company achieve profitability.
- Rivian plans to deliver 20,000 to 25,000 R2 SUVs by the end of 2026, potentially making it one of the fastest-growing new EV launches in the U.S., second only to Tesla’s Model Y.
- However, the initial R2 launch edition is priced higher than initially promoted, starting at $57,990, with more affordable versions under $50,000 not expected until 2027, and the originally advertised $45,000 base model may be delayed or uncertain.
