Rivian‘s founder and CEO RJ Scaringe revealed on Tuesday that the company is working on “other variants” of its R2 SUV beyond the three initially disclosed in March.
The R2 was launched with a Dual-Motor Performance trim priced at $57,990 with the two other versions set to arrive at a later stage.
A Premium variant is scheduled for launch later this year, while the cheaper, long-awaited $45,000 base trim is expected to debut in late 2027.
In an interview with Reuters, the chief executive said there “are other variants of R2, which we haven’t shown,” after being questioned about a pickup trim of the more affordable model.
Scaringe hinted at upcoming production in Georgia — where the EV maker is currently building its second plant, after only manufacturing in Normal, Illinois.
Rivian expects to begin production at the facility in 2028, after construction is completed in late 2027.
“What we’re building in Georgia allows ​for different variations,” he said.
Scaringe did not, however, provide any details on what the other variants ​would look like, besides suggesting that “clearly there could be an R2X.”
“There’s going to be combinations,” the CEO noted, remaining “careful not to announce the program.”
R2, R3, R3X
Rivian first unveiled the R2 in March 2024.
CEO RJ Scaringe presented the midsize SUV — a more compact, more affordable alternative to the R1S — to a live audience, pitching it as a vehicle that would bring the brand’s adventure-oriented identity to the mass market.
The R2 was not the only vehicle to appear that evening: Scaringe also pulled the cover off the R3, a compact crossover positioned below the R2, and the R3X, a performance-oriented variant with a wider stance, larger tires, and greater ground clearance.
Scaringe described the R3 as a “sibling” to the R2, built on the same platform but in a smaller form factor.
He disclosed few details about the R3 lineup beyond confirming that pricing would sit below the R2 and that production would follow after the R2 reached the market.
Manufacturing
Rivian had originally planned to build the R2 at the new Georgia facility.
Plans for the $5 billion plant were first announced in late 2021, with the state of Georgia assuming the project site in early 2022.
The 2,000-acre plot, however, was zoned for agricultural and residential use, and several nearby landowners filed lawsuits challenging the zoning of the facility.
The state had bypassed a potentially challenging rezoning vote by taking direct ownership of the land before leasing it to a local joint development authority, which in turn leased it to Rivian.
Courts ultimately dismissed the challenges, ruling that government-owned land is exempt from local zoning ordinances, but the litigation delayed the project’s timeline significantly.
At the R2’s unveiling in March 2024, Rivian announced it would instead begin production of the model at its existing plant in Normal, Illinois — a decision aimed at accelerating the timeline, reducing capital requirements, and lowering launch risk.
The shift coincided with a pause in Georgia construction, which Rivian said at the time would save more than $2 billion in near-term capital spending.
The state of Georgia has invested over $1.5 billion in incentives to develop the factory — the largest incentive package in the state’s history — on the condition that Rivian fulfills 80% of its commitment to create 7,500 jobs and make the corresponding investments by 2030.
Rivian also secured a federal loan from the US Department of Energy under the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program, originally approved at up to $6.6 billion in late 2024.
Last week, the company disclosed that the loan has since been renegotiated down to $4.5 billion under the current administration, with the company planning to begin drawing on the funds in early 2027 — a year ahead of the original schedule.
The EV maker broke ground on the Georgia site in September 2025 and is now in the early stages of vertical construction.
As part of the revised loan agreement, the company increased first-phase production capacity from 200,000 to 300,000 vehicles annually.
The plant is expected to be completed in late 2027 and begin production in 2028, supporting R2 and R3 output alongside robotaxis for Uber.
Start of Production
Rivian began volume and saleable R2 production on April 22 at the Normal plant, starting on a single shift.
Employee deliveries commenced shortly afterward, with external customer deliveries expected to begin in June.
The company has guided for 20,000 to 25,000 R2 deliveries in 2026, within a total target of 62,000 to 67,000 vehicles across its lineup.
A second production shift is being prepared for later this year, with a third planned for 2027.
The public R2 online configurator is expected to open this month, initially covering only the Performance Launch Edition.
The Premium and Standard trims will be added closer to their respective launch windows.
