The Rivian R2 has been a hit with fans, with the all-electric crossover SUV netting the company over 68,000 reservations in less than 24 hours.
The figure was announced by Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, who said he was overwhelmed by the vehicle’s reception in the EV community. After the unveiling yesterday, customers could put their names on the list to receive the R2 with a fully refundable C$150 or US$100 deposit.
Overwhelmed by the wonderful response to our new vehicles: R2, R3 and R3X.
— RJ Scaringe (@RJScaringe) March 8, 2024
In less than 24 hours, we’ve taken more than 68,000 R2 reservations. We are thrilled to see this vehicle resonate so strongly with our community! pic.twitter.com/tEIBhwlJQC
The R2 has an expected starting price of US$45,000, offering over 300 miles (482km) of range, seating for five, and single, dual, and tri-motor configurations capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in less than three seconds. Those specs position it as a viable alternative to other vehicles in its class, such as the Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The R2 won’t hit the road until the first half of 2026. However, this is earlier than originally planned after Rivian decided to start production at their facility in Normal, Illinois, as opposed to their new plant in Georgia. The decision to put the construction of the Georgia factory on hold and move production to Normal is expected to save the company an estimated $2.25 billion.
The R2’s popularity is further emphasized by its comparison to Rivian’s previous models. When the R1T and R1S launched, the two EVs accumulated over 114,000 pre-orders over four years. The accumulation of reservations for the R2, achieving 59% of the R1T and R1S’s four-year total in under a day, highlighting the potential of Rivian’s next-generation EV platform.
