Eduard Huma
When Rivian pulled the covers off the R2 in the spring of 2024, the announcement generated plenty of attention. Then things went quiet for a while. The midsize electric SUV stayed in development, while prototypes spent months on public roads gathering miles and undergoing testing across the country.
June 2026 brought a different kind of update. The American manufacturer confirmed the beginning of public customer deliveries and announced the launch of a configuration invitation program for people who previously reserved an R2. For many reservation holders, the waiting period is finally moving toward its final stage.
Production in Normal, Illinois, did not begin this week. In fact, assembly lines started building R2s several months ago. The first examples delivered in April went to company employees. Customer vehicles are next.
Some buyers will hear from Rivian sooner than others. The company explained that invitation timing depends on several factors. Reservation date plays a role. Delivery location matters as well. Existing Rivian owners receive an advantage because they qualify for faster delivery scheduling.
The invitation itself is only one step in the process. After receiving access, customers will enter their Rivian account and finalize the vehicle configuration. Trim selection comes first. Then color choices, wheels, and interior specifications follow before the order receives confirmation.
Early deliveries focus on a single version.
Rivian is beginning with the R2 Performance equipped with the Launch Package. Pricing starts at $57,990. Along with the vehicle, buyers receive Autonomy+, a semi-active suspension system, and a towing package. Included in that package is a two-inch hitch receiver rated for 4,400 pounds.
Performance numbers place this model at the sharp end of the R2 lineup. A dual-motor setup produces a combined 656 horsepower and 609 lb-ft of torque. Rivian lists a 0 to 60 mph sprint of 3.6 seconds. Range sits at a maximum of 330 miles. Rivian also provides the equivalent figure of 531 km.
Not every future R2 owner will pay nearly sixty thousand dollars, though. A broader lineup is already scheduled. Later in 2026, the company plans to add the R2 Premium with a starting price of $53,990.
Two additional versions follow in 2027. The R2 Standard RWD Long Range enters the range at $48,490. Beneath that sits the R2 Standard at $44,990.
For reservation holders who placed their names on the list years ago, the next few weeks matter more than any period since the vehicle’s original reveal. Rivian expects configuration invitations to roll out gradually and reach reservation holders before the end of June. Once an order is submitted, the company says delivery should take up to six weeks.
