Rivian's New EV Will Have Two Electric Motors And An Affordable Price Tag

Rivian's pivotal third model is set to launch next year. The more affordable R2 is geared towards a broader audience, and it's a critical thing for the brand to get right. In keeping with that idea, the Launch Edition won't be the most expensive R2 you can buy. Instead, it'll be geared towards value, aiming to bring the things Rivian is known for to a wider audience.

Rivian's New R2 Won't Skimp On Essentials

The brand confirmed some details on the R2 Launch Edition in this week's third-quarter earnings call. CEO RJ Scaringe said, "We're going to limit the number of variants that we're building, and so we have a launch edition for the R2. And this is a classic challenge, because there's thousands and thousands of people who are excited for R2. Some will want the most base version, the lowest-price version. Others are going to want the highest-end version."

The R2 will split the difference. "I'll say that it's a dual-motor variant, and it's well-appointed, but it's not intended to be our most expensive version. It is intended to be a very nicely set-up vehicle, which we think will make the most people the most happy."

Rivian R2 Launch Edition Looks To Buck Trends

This bucks a trend with smaller electric OEMs, and a larger trend sometimes present in the broader industry. Most brands figure the customers most desperate to get their hands on the car are the ones first in line and usually, the ones willing to shell out the most cash for them. So, many "First Edition," "Founders Edition," "Edition One," and the like vehicles are brought to market first and in their most loaded configurations, often well beyond a car's MSRP. Evidently, Rivian isn't following that trend.

More versions will follow as production scales, says Scaringe. More versions will come, and presumably, they'll fill in the low and high ends of the trim structure. In early 2026, an event with more details will be held.