Rivian starts delivering R2 electric SUV to customers

Rivian Automotive began delivering its new R2 electric SUV to paying customers on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, marking a pivotal attempt by the electric vehicle startup to achieve mass-market scale. The company aims to deliver between 20,000 and 25,000 units of the midsize SUV by the end of the year, a target it says would make the R2 one of the fastest-scaling EV launches in U.S. history.

The first vehicles being delivered are the high-performance "Launch Package" trim, which starts at $57,990. This price is notably higher than the $45,000 starting point Rivian initially announced when the vehicle was revealed in 2024. More affordable variants are scheduled for later release, with a sub-$50,000 model expected in early 2027 and an entry-level version around $45,000 planned for late 2027. Production has commenced on a single shift at Rivian's factory in Normal, Illinois, with a second shift planned for the second half of the year.

The launch occurs amid a shifting landscape for electric vehicles in the United States. The federal $7,500 EV tax credit expired in September 2025, and most legacy automakers have scaled back or canceled U.S. EV plans. Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe has...