Rivian starts R2 production, targets up to 25,000 deliveries in 2026

Rivian confirmed on 22 April 2026 that production of its compact R2 electric SUV has officially started at its plant in Normal, Illinois, days after a tornado struck the facility. First customer deliveries are due this spring, beginning with the Performance Launch Package, followed by the Premium trim in late 2026 and Standard variants in 2027. The R2 is roughly the size of a Tesla Model Y and is central to Rivian's path to profitability. The company says it engineered substantial cost reductions into the platform, including die casting that cuts costs by 32 percent, a new drive unit that reduces costs by 25 percent, and a simplified suspension that lowers costs by 72 percent. Analysts expect a gradual ramp, with fewer than 400 units in Q2, around 7,000 in Q3 and roughly 15,000 in Q4, putting total 2026 R2 deliveries in the region of 20,000 to 25,000 vehicles as Rivian scales output on its new lower-cost architecture.