The Rivian R3 and R3X are part of Rivian’s upcoming platform of smaller and more affordable vehicles, which were announced on March 7th, alongside the Rivian R2.
The R3 is a midsize crossover, designed with tighter dimensions, and an even lower price point than the R2 – which is supposed to start at $45,000 USD. Meanwhile, the R3X is the performance variant of the R3 – it's supposed to be Rivian’s tech demonstrator that is meant for vehicle enthusiasts, capable of working both on- and off-road.
Price and Specs
While pricing information for the Rivian R3 hasn’t been released just yet, industry estimates line up the starting price around $37,000 USD, and it should go up to $45,000 USD after battery and motor options. The R3X will be a bit more expensive, similar to the current R1T or R1S Quad Max Ascend trims, which have everything included. We’re estimating the R3X to be in the $50,000 to $60,000 range, depending on fit and finish. These numbers, for now, are just best guesses.
Battery Specs
We expect Rivian’s offerings to vary widely based on both the battery and motor packages. Today, Rivian offers a Standard Pack, Large Pack, and Max Pack on the R1S and R1T. For the R3, and the R2 platform in general, Rivian will launch two battery packs. The larger pack will be the one that obtains both the 300+ miles (382 km) of range and the 3-second 0-60mph acceleration on its quickest configuration. This could change in the future, but for now, this is Rivian’s plan, as they intend to offer fewer configuration options to reduce manufacturing complexity.
The R3 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.
The R3X is only expected to be available in the top-level battery pack trim.
The Rivian R3X prototype
Rivian
Motor Options
On the R1T and the R1S, Rivian offers three motor options — dual-motor AWD, tri-motor and quad-motor. However, for the R3, Rivian will be offering a single-motor (RWD), dual-motor (AWD), and tri-motor (two rear, one front) configurations for the R3. This lets Rivian reduce the R3’s starting price, making it as cost-efficient as possible.
The R3X, meanwhile, will only be offered in a tri-motor option, emphasizing performance and robustness both on and off-road.
EV Rebates and Tax Credits
Rivian
It's still uncertain whether the R3 will qualify for the U.S. Federal EV Tax Credit or Canada's iZEV rebate. While the Canadian rebate is more flexible, it offers a lower value of $5,000 CAD ($3,600 USD). In contrast, the U.S. rebate, a tax credit, depends on battery material sourcing and vehicle production. Right now, we expect the R3 to qualify for the full $7,500 USD ($10,000 CAD) USD tax credit.
Charging Capabilities
One of the most important things for the R2 platform, including the R3 and R3X is the inclusion of Tesla’s NACS port and built-in Supercharger functionality. Additionally, the charge port will be moved to the rear left quarter panel – matching the location of Tesla’s NACS port. This will make it easy to fit the R2 and R3 at Tesla Supercharger stalls without blocking an adjacent spot.
The R3 and R3X will both 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 R3 will be able to charge – on the right chargers – from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes. Overall, it’s a reasonable charge rate, and one that we can expect will get better as Rivian improves both the performance and software behind the new 4695 cells.
Autonomy / Self Driving
Rivian
Rivian built up an entirely new autonomy hardware system with its second-generation R1 platform, including 11 cameras, 5 radars, and an updated compute unit. While they haven’t revealed the autonomy capabilities that will be included in the R2 and R3, we expect them to be on par or the same as the current 2025 R1 vehicles.
This is an upgraded autonomy package from the first-generation R1S and R1T MobilEye EyeQ4 “Mid” system. The new system uses MobilEye’s EyeQ5 High, or “MobilEye SuperVision”.
Rivian’s custom compute package also includes hardware 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, autonomous 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 this will happen.
We’ll be diving deep into Rivian’s Driver+, their autonomy solution, in another article soon.
Release Date
The R3 isn’t expected to begin production until 2027. The R3X is expected to launch first, as early as late 2026, or early 2027. Rivian intends to launch the R2 first, sometime in mid-2026, across North America.
A European launch is expected sometime by the end of 2026 for the R2, with deliveries in 2027. This schedule will likely follow for the R3 and R3X, with European deliveries toward the end of 2027 or early 2028.
Unlike the R2, Rivian isn’t taking reservations for the R3 and R3X yet. However, they have mentioned that current owners will be given priority over others, so if you’re interested in a future R3 or R3X at launch, you could look at Rivian’s R1T or R1S Gen 2 today.
We're incredibly excited to see Rivian's R3 and R3X in the future – they have the potential to become some of the world's best-selling vehicles.
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Rivian and Volkswagen released an update to their Joint Venture, which was announced in June of this year. In the original announcement, Volkswagen promised to invest $5 billion in Rivian—$1 billion immediately and another $4 billion over time—for an equally controlled and owned joint venture.
“The partnership with Rivian is the next logical step in strengthening our global competitive and technological position.”
-- Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen
The goals were to help Rivian reduce its cost per vehicle, while also helping Volkswagen with software and zonal control technology. This collaboration presents an incredible opportunity for Rivian, positioning its technology and software as the foundation for future EVs developed through the joint venture. Crucially, Rivian retains its intellectual property rights, opening up a substantial new revenue stream for the company.
JV Update
The JV has been updated with a total deal size of up to $5.8 billion now—which is an addition of another $800 million to the original proposal. Rivian and Volkswagen will send engineers to join the JV, which will be co-headed by Rivian’s Wassym Bensaid and Volkswagen’s Carsten Helbing. Both will take on the title of co-CEO at the JV.
“We’re thrilled to see our technology being integrated in vehicles outside Rivian – this is an important enabler to help accelerate EV adoption.”
-- RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian
The primary purpose of the JV is to start working on the electric architecture—that Zonal control—and the software for what Volkswagen calls “next-generation Software Defined Vehicles,” or SDVs. The JV will officially start on November 13th, 2024, with both companies beginning contributions to the JV on that date.
The best part? The JV focuses on more than just one market segment - it includes subcompact cars. That means a mass-market vehicle that’ll be built upon Rivian’s proven tech and software will one day be available - pushed forward by Volkswagen’s mass-market scale.
The JV will be based in Palo Alto, California, as well as some other sites in North America and Europe - for a total of up to four sites. It’ll be a chance for engineers from both companies to get together and figure out how to best leverage what both companies have to offer and build an appealing set of products.
JV Focuses
With the primary focus being on using Rivian’s pre-existing architecture and software stack, the R2 platform is a clear starting point for the JV - one of its key purposes will be to bootstrap the launch of the R2 in early 2026, and then go on to support the R3, and further Volkswagen vehicles sometime in 2027 and 2028.
Scaling Rivian’s technology will be challenging. While Rivian’s tech is modular, flexible, and highly capable, these advanced features come with a high price tag. To make vehicles that are both high-performing and affordable, the joint venture will need to focus on reducing costs without compromising on capability.
Interestingly, the JV also mentions automated driving functions - so we can probably expect Rivian’s Autonomy Platform to be present on these new vehicles as well - alongside a specific focus on OTA updates.
Rivian and Volkswagen have supposedly already built a driveable demonstrator vehicle, a Volkswagen car built to run on Rivian’s hardware and software, which sounds a lot like Scout…
We’re excited to see where this JV goes and how it helps shape Rivian, Rivian’s software platform, and the future of EVs.
Halloween is just a day away. Are you ready to sport all of your Rivian’s new Halloween features? Rivian added various features in their annual spooky update with Rivian update 2024.39. This year, Rivian has gone all out, with not one but three Halloween car costumes and various other features.
The car costumes are selectable through the Rivian app when the vehicle is parked - and so are all the other fun features.
Halloween Update
Rivian’s Halloween update this time is the biggest it's ever been. Before we dig into the Car Costumes, let’s take a look at the sprinkling of other spooky features they’ve provided.
New Drive Mode Animations
First up is the drive modes menu. Every drive mode in your vehicle has taken on a spooky look, so pan through your available drive modes while you’re parked to see all the Halloween fun. Look closely because some of the spooky surprises are well hidden. The only mode that doesn’t have a spooky surprise is snow mode.
Camp Mode also got a little something special. The flame of the campfire is lit by some witch’s evil magic and is burning green alongside some pumpkins and crows in the background. And just like last year, pedestrians are zombies - but that’s not all. Motorcyclists and bicyclists take on a new form in the visualization - they’ve come back as headless horsemen.
Rivian has also introduced two additional lock sounds for Halloween, an owl and a crow. While all of the Halloween goodies will go away once the season is over, Rivian has already said that the owl lock sound will come back as a standard lock sound in the future.
There are also two new interior lighting modes, the red Crimson Moon, and the green Foggy Bog. To go with that, there’s a new selection of three songs to play internally, as well as a sound effect board, all done from within the Rivian app.
The best plan is to play some spooky sound effects while your Rivian is parked outside on Halloween night to give some trick-or-treaters a fright!
The Costume Selector in the App
Rivian Wave
Knight Rider Car Costume
The Knight Rider costume dresses up Gear Guard Garry as Michael Knight and K.I.T.T.'s super intelligence takes over your car in the classic original TV show style. On Gen 2 vehicles, the lightbar up front will mimic K.I.T.T.’s unique red beam scanner, including the sound effect!
The Knight Rider interior screens
Rivian Wave
Over in the interior, you’ll get three unique displays inside your vehicle. On the driver’s display, you’ll see revs, speed, and a ton of other information, while the main display will tell you all about how ready K.I.T.T. is to tackle the bad guys. Finally, the passengers will have access to the tools K.I.T.T. has access to - everything from energy cannons and radars to Missiles and Turbo Boost.
Back to the Future Car Costume
Back to the Future dresses up Garry as none other than Doc Brown, and you’ll get a super cool set of movie-inspired interfaces on the inside of your vehicle. Gen 2 owners can hit the 88 mph button on their driver’s display and engage in Back to the Future-themed interior and exterior lighting, along with sound effects to match.
The Back to the Future Interior Screens
Rivian Wave
The driver’s display has all the information you’ll need to get your flux capacitor up and running, telling you all about the plutonium chamber and power you’ll need to hit 88 mph. The primary display will tell you when you’ve got your destination, what time it is now, and when you originally departed. The passengers get to keep an eye on the flux capacitor, and dial in the destination time!
Trunk or Treat Car Costume
Trunk or Treat has Garry as a scarecrow this year and has eight different sound effects and three color themes. That’s also alongside the option to select the thematic music for the interior of your vehicle.
All three interior screens will be haunted by ghosts and static, and Gen1 vehicle owners will get a green animation on the lightbar. Gen 2 owners will have their lightbar match their selected color.
Video Overviews
Jenna Ezarik over on X put together this awesome recap - so go take a look.
![Rivian Matrix Headlights: What They Are and How to Tell If You Have Them [VIDEO]](https://www.rivianwave.com/img/paths/storage/r1t/r1t_headlight.jpg/d8b668a69ef1b4256f3bb09d419ee369/r1t_headlight.jpg)
