Rivian has officially begun producing Manufacturing Validation Builds (MVBs) of its upcoming R2 crossover, confirming that customer deliveries are closer than ever.
The milestone was confirmed by RJ Scaringe, who shared the update on social media.
Those vehicles are coming off the line at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois facility, which already builds the R1S and R1T. Over the past year, Rivian expanded the plant specifically to support R2 production, completing the build-out at an impressive pace, getting a production line up and running in under 12 months.
Manufacturing Validation Builds are a crucial phase in any vehicle launch. Unlike early prototypes—often hand-assembled in small numbers—MVBs are production-intent vehicles built on the same equipment and processes that will be used for customer cars. This stage allows Rivian to validate tooling, supplier readiness, quality control, and line efficiency before scaling to volume production. Barring any major issues, the transition from validation builds to customer vehicles typically follows quickly.
Timing-wise, Rivian remains on track with its previously stated 2026 launch window. With MVBs now underway, the first deliveries are likely to begin in the spring, although those will be with internal employees before expanding to the broader reservation holder base, again likely in the second quarter.
With a targeted starting price of around US$45,000, it will be Rivian’s most affordable vehicle to date and its first true attempt at competing in the high-volume compact crossover segment. That puts it squarely up against best-sellers like the Tesla Model Y, while also opening the door to customers who may have found Rivian’s R1 lineup out of reach.
Demand appears strong. Rivian has previously indicated that reservations for the R2 exceed 200,000, giving the company a sizable backlog as it prepares to ramp production.
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