Rivian R2: Everything We Know

August 22, 2024

By Karan Singh

Rivian

The Rivian R2 is Rivian’s future platform and electric mid-size SUV, which was announced on March 7^th, alongside the R3 and R3X. The R2 is supposed to bring Rivian’s performance and capabilities in a smaller, five-seat package optimized for everyday use and adventuring.

Price and Specs

Rivian hasn’t provided complete details on all the build options for the R2 just yet – but it will be starting at $45,000 USD. It’ll have an estimated range of up to 300+ mi, and a 0-60mph (0-100 km/h) in under 3 seconds in select trims. This, alongside the 5-seat capacity, makes the R2 a strong competitor against the Tesla Model Y Long Range in the United States – which starts today at $47,990.

Rivian recently announced the specifications for its R2 AWD launch edition.

Battery Options

We expect Rivian’s offerings to vary widely based on the battery and motor package. Today, Rivian offers a Standard Pack, Large Pack, and Max Pack on the R1S and R1T. For the R2, Rivian will launch two battery packs, and the larger pack will be the one that obtains both the 300+ mi of range and the 3-second 0-60mph acceleration. This could change in the future, but for now, this seems pretty settled, as Rivian intends to offer fewer configuration options to reduce manufacturing complexity.

The R2 will also feature a structural battery based on Rivian’s new 4695 cells, which they say will offer significant improvements in both energy density and output. Rivian intends to focus its efforts on this new cell size going forward.

Motor Options

On the R1T and the R1S, the motor options are a dual-motor AWD, trimotor, and quad-motor variants. However, for the R2, Rivian will be offering it in a single-motor (RWD) variant, as well as a dual-motor (AWD), and tri-motor (two rear, one front) configuration. This is mostly to make the vehicle as cost-efficient as possible.

Rivian Wave

EV Rebates and Tax Credits

We’re currently not sure if the R2 will be eligible for the United States Federal EV Rebate, or Canada’s iZEV rebate. The Canadian rebate is more flexible but is only $5,000 CAD (~$3600 USD), while the American rebate is a tax credit, and is based on battery material origin and vehicle production. It’ll likely be eligible for the full $7,500 USD (~$10,000 CAD), but we’ll have to wait for confirmation from Rivian.

Charging Capabilities

One of the most important things for the R2 is the inclusion of Tesla’s NACS port, and built-in Supercharger support. Additionally, for the R2 specifically, the charge port will be moved to the rear left quarter panel – matching the location of Tesla’s NACS port – making it easy to fit your Rivian in at a Tesla Supercharger and not worry about blocking any stalls.

The R2 will also be CCS compatible but will require a CCS-to-NACS adapter. At this point, Rivian does not intend to provide an adapter with the R2, so a third-party adapter will be required unless Rivian releases an OEM option.

Rivian has said that the R2 will be able to charge – on the right hardware – from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes. That’s expected to be in line with the top EVs in this price range. The numbers may even improve as Rivian fine-tunes their new 4695 cells.

Autonomy

Rivian Wave

Rivian’s built up an entirely new autonomy hardware system, including 11 cameras, 5 radars, and an updated compute platform. While they haven’t said exactly how many self-driving capabilities they intend to include, this is an upgraded package from the R1S and R1T Gen1’s MobilEye EyeQ4 “Mid” system. This new system, also included on the second generation R1S and R1T, is MobilEye’s EyeQ5 High, or “MobilEye SuperVision”.

Rivian’s custom compute package also includes compute from Nvidia, but supposedly this board will be in training mode and non-functional until Rivian launches its own autonomy solution. The MobilEye hardware will be responsible for Rivian’s autonomy features, including full-surround perception, automated lane changes, and highway and traffic jam assist – which is essentially an advanced highway lane-keeping assist. Rivian intends to eventually phase out the MobilEye hardware, but we’re not sure when that will happen.

Release Date

Rivian’s R2 is currently available for reservation in the US for $100 USD, and Canada for $150 CAD. The estimated delivery date for the United States is expected to be mid-2026, and Canada will follow along at the same time.

Rivian also intends to launch the R2 internationally, following its North American launch. We know plenty of European customers are considering the R2 as their first or next EV, but we haven’t heard any exact dates for its release in Europe yet. Rivian will likely allow reservations outside of North America once the R2 ramp is completed at its Normal, Illinois facility.

We’re excited to see the launch of the Rivian R2 as it’s expected to bring Rivian into the mainstream and make Rivian a household name.

Rivian Continues to Convert RAN Chargers to NACS

March 5, 2026

By Nehal Malik

@RivianUpdates

Rivian is making steady progress in its mission to unify the electric vehicle charging experience across North America. The company is actively retrofitting its proprietary DC fast-charging infrastructure, known as the Rivian Adventure Network (RAN), to replace aging CCS connectors with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS).

As pointed out by @AlejandroEV66, recent data shows that at least 23 Rivian Adventure Network sites — roughly 16% of the entire network — have now been retrofitted with NACS connectors. This means EV drivers with NACS ports can simply plug in without needing a bulky adapter. You can even track the progress yourself through a live list of NACS-equipped RAN sites to see which locations have made the switch.

The Shift to the North American Charging Standard

Rivian’s journey toward NACS began back in 2023 when the company officially joined the growing list of automakers adopting Tesla’s connector. At the time, Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said, "We’re excited to work with Tesla and to see collaborations like this help advance the world toward carbon neutrality. The adoption of the North American Charging Standard will enable our existing and future customers to leverage Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network while we continue to build out our Rivian Adventure Network."

As part of this commitment, Rivian announced that all R1 vehicles from 2025 onwards would be equipped with native NACS ports. This transition also paved the way for the long-awaited R2 midsize SUV, which is built on a completely new platform and will feature a built-in NACS port when it launches later this month. The R2 is also expected to be a tech powerhouse, utilizing next-generation eSIM technology for constant connectivity.

Converting the Adventure Network

While Rivian owners have already gained access to Tesla’s massive Supercharger network, the company is still focused on its own branded charging experience. Reports from the field, such as those from @RivianUpdates, show that stations are being converted overnight. In one instance, a station that was entirely CCS1 one day had four of its fourteen stalls converted to NACS by the next.

@RivianUpdates

This retrofitting process is crucial for the company's future. By equipping its own stations with NACS, Rivian ensures that its newest vehicles — and those from other manufacturers like Ford or GM — can charge seamlessly. While the company is also exploring wireless charging to potentially eliminate ports altogether in the future, the immediate focus is clearly on standardizing the plug-in experience.

A More Convenient Future

Standardizing on NACS is a win for everyone. It reduces the "range anxiety" often felt by new EV owners and simplifies the hardware needed in the vehicle. As more RAN sites come online with the new connectors, the distinction between "Tesla charging" and "everyone else" will continue to fade.

Rivian is positioning itself as a leader in this transition, ensuring that whether you’re driving an original R1T or the upcoming R2, finding a fast, reliable charge is easier than ever.

Rivian R2 Will Use Next-Generation eSIM and AT&T for U.S. Connectivity

March 3, 2026

By Karan Singh

Rivian Wave

Rivian’s highly anticipated R2 just picked up another quiet but meaningful technological win ahead of its full pricing and configurator reveal (R2 specs). Rivian is doubling down on ensuring parts commonality between the initial version destined for North America and future versions destined for Europe and the Asia-Pacific markets by integrating next-gen eSIM hardware.

Rivian has announced it is collaborating with the Munich-based firm Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and AT&T in North America to equip the R2 with this tech that’s currently available on modern flagship devices.

With this partnership, the R2 will be one of the first vehicles in the world to launch with GSMA SGP.32-enabled eSIM technology and 5G connectivity out of the box. While cellular hardware updates rarely make front-page headlines, this specific integration is a massive win for Rivian.

The Power of SGP.32

To understand why this matters, just think about the logistical nightmare legacy manufacturers face when selling connected cars internationally. Manufacturers generally need to manage multiple hardware variants to accommodate the specific cellular networks available in various countries.

The newly finalized SGP.32 eSIM standard, built specifically for automotive and IoT applications, eliminates that friction and simplifies standardization. This architecture allows Rivian to utilize a single global hardware SKU, meaning that as the R2 expands into new international markets, no new hardware is required.

Rivian can seamlessly add or swap Mobile Network Operator (MNO) partners entirely over the air, without ever needing to touch the physical hardware inside the vehicle. For a company that is actively scaling its operations and looking to push the R2 into markets outside of North America, this remote management infrastructure is a game-changer.

The AT&T Connection

While G+D is providing the eSIM hardware and remote management capabilities, AT&T will serve as Rivian’s initial mobile network provider in the United States. AT&T’s 5G network will power the R2’s connected services, from streaming entertainment to local hotspotting and navigation.

Software-Defined Vehicle

Ultimately, the R2 is designed to be a software-defined vehicle that constantly improves throughout its lifecycle. That means its connectivity must function everywhere, no matter what country it's sold in.

Simplifying the parts pipeline from dozens of regional SKUs to just a single global part makes vehicle assembly incredibly simple and helps to future-proof before volume production begins.