Two years after announcing a new model would be built in Normal, the first Rivian R2s built for real customers rolled off the production line on Wednesday.
The R2 is a smaller, more affordable SUV that the company hopes will break through with mainstream car buyers. The first R2s will start at $57,990, although cheaper $45,000 versions will be available by the end of 2027.
R2’s launch is high stakes for Rivian, which has faced major headwinds on its journey to becoming McLean County’s second-largest employer, including COVID, supply-chain disruptions, trade disputes and now a Trump administration that is openly hostile to EVs. Rivian invested $1.5 billion on a major expansion in Normal to accommodate R2 production.
Test (or validation) versions of the R2 began rolling off the line in mid-January. After a “rigorous validation process,” the first vehicles for real customers were finished Wednesday. The first customer deliveries will happen this spring.
“We are really excited to be producing R2 for our customers,” Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said in a blog post. “The vehicle is incredible — it’s the result of all the hard work and dedication of the Rivian team. I can’t wait for customers to experience R2!”
If Rivian’s plant ever gets to full capacity, with three shifts of workers, it’ll be able to make 215,000 vehicles a year in Normal, including 155,000 R2s. It made 42,284 vehicles in 2025. The R2 will be made in Normal to start, then also at a second manufacturing plant being built in Georgia.
Added Rivian Chief Operations Officer Javier Varela: “Building R2 represents a major advance in engineering excellence and manufacturing efficiency, driving meaningful improvements in cost and quality that position Rivian as a leader in the future of transportation. We are grateful to every member of our team who has brought this vehicle to life, and we are thrilled to begin sharing it with the world.”
