Rivian announced today that the R2 is officially launching on June 9th. Rivian also says that starting today you can visit the Rivian website to save and share your perfect R2 configuration. Choose the color, interior, wheels and options that fit you best. When your order invitation arrives, you'll be that much closer to getting your R2.
How R2 Order Invitations Work
Invitations will go out on a rolling basis starting June 9. Rivian will be sending them in batches as deliveries ramp up. Your reservation timestamp and delivery location are the primary factors that determine when you receive your invite. Areas surrounding Rivian Service + Demo Centers will generally receive invitations sooner as this allows the company to deliver vehicles more quickly in the early ramp. Current Rivian owners will receive accelerated delivery timing, balanced alongside deliveries to non-owners to keep the line moving for everyone. The invitations will arrive in an email. Your configuration and pricing are not locked until you place your order and receive a confirmation from Rivian. Once your order is confirmed, you can expect to take delivery within 2-6 weeks. Rivian will reach out directly to complete the process and schedule your delivery.
Expiring Leases
If your lease is ending soon, you can enter your expiring lease information in your Rivian Account and they’ll factor that in. For Rivian leases, no need to take any action, Rivian already has you on their list.
What R2 Can Be Ordered in June
The first vehicle available to order is R2 Performance with Launch Package, which comes with Autonomy+ included. R2 Premium trim will arrive in late 2026 with Standard trim following in 2027. If you prefer to wait for a future R2 version, you will be notified as they become available to order. Once your order is confirmed, you can plan to take delivery within 2–6 weeks.
Book a Demo Drive
On June 9, R2 begins to arrive at Rivian Spaces so you can explore it in person and get behind the wheel for a demo drive. All customers are welcome to schedule a demo drive, with priority given to reservation holders who have been invited to order. Visit the Rivian website starting June 9 to find demo drive availability near you.
Rivian is Telling Buyers They Can’t Pickup Their Vehicles at the Factory
Some potential buyers have asked if they can get their vehicle sooner if they go to the factory, but Rivian says no. Instead, the company will ship your vehicle directly to your local delivery center through their logistics network. Once it arrives, you’ll pick it up at your nearest Rivian Service + Demo Center, where the Rivian team will give you a personalized, hands-on walkthrough of your R2.
Rivian R2 Being Assembled in Normal, Illinois
As I reported earlier, members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press were able to see some preproduction R2s at the Denver Rivian Store in April. Rivian held a block party and invited reservation holders to also come see the vehicle, examine it and sit in it. Rivian won’t say how many people have reserved the company’s smaller SUV, but it is well over 100,000. Automotive journalists could interview Brian Gase, Rivian’s Vice President of Engineering Quality, about the SUV that Gase has been test driving for months. Crowds quickly gathered to see the R2 and its upgrades.
The 2026 Rivian R2 Performance Model
The R2s we got to see are the Performance Launch Editions. These first R2s will be slightly more expensive than the base models that will be on sale early in 2027. In all, Rivian anticipates being able to produce 135,000 - 200,000 R2s annually. You can tell the Performance models by the yellow brake calipers. Rivian isn’t kidding about performance, these Launch editions will have 660 horsepower. The R2 will do 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds. The website lists the base price for the Performance Launch editions as $57,990.
I find the most interesting thing about the software defined vehicles is that because they can be continually improved with Over-the-Air updates, the vehicle actually gets better the longer you have it. As Gase said, “The vehicle you have after a year is better than the vehicle you purchased.”
Innovation is Key at Rivian
Gase was the fourth person hired to join the company some 15 years ago and seems particularly proud that Rivian continues to innovate while keeping its sense of humor. He points out the rear window glass can be raised or lowered with an invisible button on the side of the rear panel. Gase demonstrates how the company took great pains to make sure the rear window wiper sits flush to the glass, while still directing water away from the window.
Gase also says that Rivian is working on ways to use old vehicle batteries to provide power to its different facilities. Rivian is also working on ways to replace parts or sections of vehicle batteries, rather than having to replace entire batteries.
To illustrate the company’s humor, Gase showed a gasket cover with a picture of a frog and a skunk on it. Together the frog and skunk make a frunk. The R2’s significant frunk is one of the reasons that it has best-in-class cargo room. The R2 has total cargo room of 90.1 cu.-ft. While Gase confirmed that the R2 has easter eggs, he would not divulge where they are.
The R2 midsize SUV also comes with a spacious backseat with significant legroom. Designed to drive on pavement, the R2 also has great ground clearance for off-roading. The R2 has 9.6" of ground clearance, and specs say it averages 32" overall diameter on all wheel and tire options, so it is outfitted to tackle rough terrain comfortably. The Launch edition also includes the towing package.
The Performance Launch edition is AWD, with dual motors. It is expected to have a range of 330 miles. The Standard model that will go on sale in 2027 will have a smaller battery and be more affordable with a starting price of around $48,490. The Standard model will have 350 horsepower, be rear-wheel-drive and have a single long-range motor.
Images by Mary Conway
About the Author
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.
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