Rivian’s R2 SUV Could Spawn More Variants, Including a Surprise Pickup Truck
New comments suggest Rivian’s affordable EV could evolve into more versions.
Just a few weeks ago, Rivian sounded like a proud parent welcoming its newborn as the first production R2 rolled off the production line. Now, company CEO RJ Scaringe has hinted that the lineup could grow beyond the R2 Performance and Launch Edition all-electric SUVs. He was not referring to the Standard trim due next year. According to Reuters, additional not-yet-seen versions are coming.
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The Reuters interview focused on the possibility of a pickup version of the R2 electric SUV. Scaringe said Rivian’s Georgia plant, where the R2 will eventually be built (it’s presently built in Normal, Illinois), is designed to support multiple variations of its smaller, more affordable EV. He did not reveal much beyond this: “So clearly there could be an R2X. There’s going to be combinations.”
Rivian is counting on the R2 to drive sales in the coming months. The company has forecasted a 53-percent jump in deliveries and expects to sell about 23,000 R2s. Just under half of those are expected to come through its deal with Uber, which plans to add fully autonomous R2s to its robotaxi service beginning in 2028.
We reached out to Rivian about the rumored R2X variants and the future of the R3, which had been expected to launch for the 2027 or 2028 model year, alongside or shortly after the R2. It would be a shame to lose such a promising, stylish, 1980s hatchback-inspired SUV. The company’s response was predictable: It would not comment on or speculate about future products, saying only, “We’re focused on launching R2 and excited to begin public customer deliveries this spring.”
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Having experience in many forms of the automotive industry, Justin Banner has done more than just write about cars. For more than 15 years, he's had experience working as an automotive service technician—including a stint as a Virginia State Inspector—service advisor, parts sales, and aftermarket parts technical advisor (a fancy way of saying he helped you on the phone when you had trouble fitting your brakes over your aftermarket wheels and the like). Prior to his tenure as a full-time editor, Justin worked as a freelance writer and photographer for various publications and as an automotive content creator on YouTube. He’s also covered multiple forms of motorsports ranging from Formula Drift, drag racing, and time attack, to NASCAR, short course off-roading, and open desert racing. He's best known for breaking down complex technical concepts so a layperson can more easily understand why technologies, repairs, and parts should matter to them. At MotorTrend, Justin is part of the news team covering breaking news and topics while also working as a judge for MotorTrend Of the Year events and other major comparison tests.
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