Key Takeaways:
- Rivian begins customer deliveries of the R2 SUV on June 9, 2026
- The R2 Performance trim starts at $59,485, with cheaper versions planned
- Rivian targets 25,000 deliveries by year-end as it pursues first-ever profit
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Rivian to deliver first R2 SUVs on June 9, starting at $59,485
Rivian will begin customer deliveries of its R2 SUV on June 9, marking a critical milestone for the EV maker's push into the mass market with a starting price of $59,485.
"The R2's success is vital to Rivian's success," Jeff Hammoud, chief design officer at Rivian, told Inc. magazine.
The first trim available will be the R2 Performance with Launch Package at $59,485, followed by the R2 Premium at $55,485 in late 2026. Rivian plans a standard version starting at $48,490 in 2027 and has teased a model "starting around $45,000" late next year — a price point it has promoted since the R2's reveal in 2024. The company expects to deliver as many as 25,000 vehicles by year-end.
The R2 is central to Rivian's path to profitability. The company, founded in 2009, has never posted a full-year profit. With an average selling price of about $90,000 for its R1 pickup and three-row SUV, the R2 opens a broader addressable market at roughly half the cost. Founder and Chief Executive Officer RJ Scaringe called the R2 "maybe the most important thing we've launched to date."
Order invitations will go out on a rolling basis starting June 9, with current R1T and R1S owners receiving first priority, the company said. Once an order is confirmed, delivery takes two to six weeks. Rivian will also open the R2 for test drives at its showrooms, called Rivian Spaces, on the same date.
The R2 faces a crowded mid-size electric SUV segment dominated by Tesla's Model Y, which starts at about $47,000, and Ford's Mustang Mach-E, priced from $40,000. Rivian's differentiation lies in its off-road capability and brand loyalty — the R1 lineup has developed a cult following among outdoor enthusiasts. Still, the company must prove it can scale production efficiently at its Normal, Illinois, factory to achieve the gross profit positive auto segment it has targeted by year-end.
Rivian shares have rallied this year as the R2 ramp-up progressed, with investors betting the vehicle can drive the revenue growth needed to reach profitability. The company's market capitalization stands at roughly $18 billion, down from a 2021 peak above $150 billion. The R2's delivery cadence over the next six months will be the clearest signal yet of whether Rivian can execute on its mass-market ambitions.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
