Rivian R2 Delivers Strong First Impressions as Customer Deliveries Begin

Rivian has officially started delivering its highly anticipated R2 electric SUV, marking perhaps the most important milestone in the company’s short history as it attempts to move beyond the premium EV segment and attract a broader audience.

The first customer deliveries began this week after Rivian started production of the R2 at its manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois earlier this spring. At the same time, early reservation holders have started receiving invitations to configure and finalize their orders.

For Rivian, the R2 represents far more than just another vehicle launch. The midsize SUV is expected to become the company’s highest-volume product and play a critical role in its path toward profitability.

Today is the day. R2 is here! Invitations to order are on the way. Don't have a reservation yet? Build yours now on our site. https://t.co/78bUQSF3ou pic.twitter.com/xPSNnBjugk

— Rivian (@Rivian) June 9, 2026

Launch Version Arrives First

While Rivian originally promoted the R2 as a roughly US$45,000 electric SUV, the first version reaching customers is the higher-end Performance trim with the Launch Package, starting at US$57,990.

Additional variants are expected to follow over the next 18 months. Rivian plans to introduce a Premium trim later this year for approximately US$54,000, while lower-priced versions are scheduled to arrive in 2027, eventually bringing the starting price down to $44,990.

R2 delivery today!

Stunning Catalina Cove. pic.twitter.com/uUn9RNLXWn

— Christian Prenzler (@clprenz) June 9, 2026

That rollout strategy is common in the auto industry, where manufacturers often launch better-equipped, higher-margin versions before introducing more affordable models.

Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe celebrated the start of deliveries, saying, “I am really proud of the work our team poured into creating R2. This vehicle reflects the passion and excitement of the entire Rivian team who have worked tirelessly to bring it to life. I can’t wait for customers to experience this vehicle.”

Lease Prices Draw Backlash

Despite the excitement surrounding the launch, some of the online discussion quickly shifted toward financing and lease costs.

According to estimates shown in Rivian’s configurator, a 36-month lease on an R2 Performance with US$3,500 down and excellent credit comes to approximately US$829 per month. With lower down payments, some customers reported monthly costs approaching or exceeding US$1,000.

The figures surprised many reservation holders, particularly because the R2 has long been marketed as Rivian’s more accessible vehicle.

Some prospective buyers pointed out that the lease payments are not dramatically lower than those of the larger and more expensive R1S. Others compared the R2’s financing offers to Tesla’s aggressively subsidized financing programs, which currently include promotional rates as low as 0% APR on certain Model Y variants in the United States.

Some Popular Features Missing at Launch

While early impressions of the R2 have been largely positive, some reservation holders were surprised to learn that several software features available on Rivian’s larger R1 vehicles are not included at launch.

Among the missing features are Rivian Assistant, the company’s voice assistant, along with Climate Hold and Pet Mode, two convenience features that have become particularly popular with existing Rivian owners. Gear Guard, Rivian’s security and monitoring system, is available but launches with limited functionality.

Several entertainment features are also absent on day one, including the SiriusXM app, Google Casting, YouTube integration, and Camp Mode. Rivian has indicated these features are expected to arrive through future over-the-air software updates, but the company has not provided a firm timeline for their release.

While disappointing, these features won’t be missing forever and are sure to arrive in the future via an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Still, for a vehicle that has been in development for more than two years, some customers had expected feature parity with the R1 lineup from the start.

A Critical Test for Rivian’s Future

Rivian has built a strong reputation with the R1T and R1S, but both vehicles occupy a relatively expensive segment of the market. The R2 is designed to compete directly with mainstream SUVs from both EV makers and traditional automakers, including rivals like the Tesla Model Y, Jeep, and Subaru.

The company expects the R2 to become its volume seller, with deliveries projected to account for a substantial portion of Rivian’s growth over the next several years.

For now, the R2 has officially arrived. Whether it becomes the mass-market success Rivian needs may depend less on the launch version being delivered today and more on how quickly the promised US$45,000 variants make their way into customer driveways.