Rivian has taken a major step toward launching its highly anticipated R2 SUV, revealing that it has already built “hundreds” of production-intent models for testing and validation, with those vehicles now hitting the roads across the U.S. covered in unique wraps.
In a post on X, Rivian announced that “they may not always travel in packs, but sightings of R2 are on the rise,” confirming that production-intent builds are already out on public roads. The company elaborated in a blog post, explaining that “more and more R2 vehicles have been out in the wild eating up miles, as hundreds of production-intent builds come off our pilot line.”
These pre-production models are nearly identical to what customers will eventually receive, with final testing ensuring that no design or performance issues remain. Rivian’s operations at its Normal, Illinois plant are currently paused for three weeks to complete a retooling through early October, preparing the facility for larger-scale R2 production.
Full manufacturing is expected to begin in the first half of 2026.
They may not always travel in packs, but sightings of R2 are on the rise as hundreds of production-intent builds roll off our pilot line and hit the road for real world testing and final validation! pic.twitter.com/34TotnaPaH
— Rivian (@Rivian) September 24, 2025
Beyond Illinois, Rivian is also developing a new plant in Georgia, though the project has faced multiple delays. The company officially broke ground on the facility this month, but the real construction won’t begin until early 2026.
Once completed, the facility will initially support R2 production before shifting to the smaller R3 and sportier R3X models. Operations in Georgia are projected to begin in late 2027, with customer deliveries likely starting in 2028.
The R2 has also been spotted recently at a Tesla Supercharger stations in Arizona, confirming that it will come with a native North American Charging Standard (NACS) port — located in the same rear driver-side position used by Tesla. Rivian announced its adoption of NACS back in 2024 and has already provided free adapters to existing owners while transitioning its own network to support the standard.
