Rivian to Begin Production of R2 Electric SUV in Illinois Facility
Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced that it will begin production of its new R2 electric SUV at its facility in Normal, Illinois. This decision comes as construction at Rivian’s new $5 billion EV plant in Georgia, where the R2 was initially supposed to be produced, has been delayed. However, the delay is not expected to have a significant impact on the production timeline.
The R2 electric SUV, which was introduced at a launch event at Rivian’s Laguna showroom, will be available in single, dual, and tri-motor versions with over 300 miles of range. The R2 is smaller in size compared to the R1S and is essentially the size of the Tesla Model Y. It will start at $45,000 and will be launched at the Normal, Illinois facility, saving the company $2.25 billion.
Upgrades to the Normal EV plant will allow for the production of up to 215,000 vehicles annually. Production of the R2 has been moved to the first half of 2026. In addition to the R2, Rivian also unveiled the R3 and its high-performance tri-motor R3X variant at the event.
Rivian expects to have sufficient funding through the start of R2 production. New plant upgrades will reduce material costs and help the company achieve a growth profit by the end of the year. Vehicle deliveries are expected to remain flat this year at around 57,000.
The launch of the R2 and R3 models will help Rivian expand into new markets, including Europe. Both Rivian and Tesla have backtracked on plans to build next-gen models at new facilities, with the hope that this move will allow for more efficient new facilities in the future.
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