March is turning out to be a very eventful month for the automotive world. On March 5, Dodge will unveil the Charger Daytona’s production model, which will begin deliveries this fall. It looks like Rivian is set to unveil its smaller SUV on March 7. This SUV will be dubbed as part of the R2 line and is expected to slot below the company’s R1S SUV and R1T pickup. We knew this was on the way, thanks to information shared by Rivian’s CEO back in August 2022.
Rivian R2 SUV Reveal: What To Expect
The R2 name isn’t exclusive to an SUV either, which means there could also be a smaller truck on the way. Rivian trademarked some names, which we suspect will be linked to future vehicles from the company: R2T, R2S, R2A, R2C, R2R, and R2X. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but we believe the R2S and R2X will be associated with a sedan and crossover, both of which may see production at Rivian’s new plant in Georgia. As for what’s to be revealed on March 7, an image teasing the silhouette of a smaller SUV leads us to believe that it is the first vehicle of this upcoming R2 series to launch.
According to motor1, CEO RJ Scaringe has suggested that this vehicle will have a starting price of around $45,000 to $50,000. That’s about half the price of its current cheapest vehicle, the R1T pickup, which boasts a starting price of $80,800. As for availability, the car might go on sale sometime in 2026, so the price tag is subject to significant alteration. Scaringe said that the R2 will be a challenge for the brand, as it’ll be required to expand production to meet the demands of offering a more affordable model line.
That said, Rivian is working to stay ahead of the issue with its $5 billion manufacturing plant under construction in Georgia, which is likely why Rivian will launch the R2 line until 2026 after the plant is fully armed and operational. The complex will cover roughly 1800 acres and create around 15,500 jobs.
