Rivian will deliver its first R2 SUVs to customers on June 9, the date the automaker has set for order invitations, demo drives, and the start of deliveries to begin simultaneously. The company confirmed the milestone to reservation holders earlier this week, framing the compact SUV as a more affordable, higher-volume complement to its R1 lineup. Buyers can configure and save an R2 build on Rivian’s website ahead of the date, locking in color, interior, wheels, and options before invitations go out. CEO RJ Scaringe has called the R2 perhaps the most important product the company has launched to date.
Highlights
- The R2 Performance with Launch Package is the first variant available to order, arriving in 2026, with Premium trim following in late 2026 and Standard trim in 2027.
- The Standard trim will start at $48,490, with an even more affordable version targeted at around $45,000 expected later.
- Rivian targets as many as 25,000 R2 deliveries by the end of 2026.
- Once an order is confirmed, customers can expect delivery within two to six weeks.
How Will Rivian R2 Order Invitations Work?
Rather than a slow, staggered rollout, Rivian is concentrating three milestones on June 9: order-confirmation emails to early reservation holders, the start of public demo drives, and the first vehicles arriving in customer driveways. Invitations will not reach everyone at once. Priority weighs how early a customer reserved, how close they live to a Rivian service and demo location, whether they are a current R1 owner, and whether they have an expiring lease, with a degree of random selection also factored in.
Reservation holders do not need to confirm immediately, but Rivian cautions that originally configured pricing or Launch Package availability may change for those who wait. Current R1 owners tend to see accelerated delivery, though their invitations are mixed in among non-owners rather than placed ahead of the queue. Customers with a Rivian lease are already in the system; those with a lease on another vehicle can enter that information in their Rivian Account so it can be factored into timing. Invitations are sent by email.
R2 Performance Specifications and Pricing
The first model out of the gate, the R2 Performance with Launch Package, pairs a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup producing 656 horsepower with a 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds. The company reports an EPA-estimated range of 330 miles. The Launch Package bundles Rivian’s Autonomy+ driver-assistance suite, and the vehicle includes a semi-active suspension with drive modes spanning Snow, Soft Sand, and Rally.
Pricing steps down over time. The Standard trim is set to start at $48,490 when it arrives in 2027, and Rivian has continued to promote an entry version starting around $45,000, a figure it has cited since revealing the R2 in 2024. The company has tied the R2, along with its smaller R3 sibling, to its long-stated goal of reaching profitability.
When Can Customers Take a Demo Drive?
Demo drives begin June 9, when R2 vehicles start appearing at Rivian Spaces. All customers are welcome to schedule a drive, with priority given to reservation holders who have been invited to order. Booking does not open until that date, so availability cannot be checked in advance. Customers can visit Rivian’s website starting June 9 to find demo availability near them.
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