Rivian begins R2 production even after tornado damage at plant

Rivian has rolled the first customer-ready R2 SUVs off the production line at its factory in Normal, Illinois, just days after the site was hit by an EF-1 tornado that tore off part of the roof.

Despite the damage, founder and CEO RJ Scaringe told Bloomberg Television on Wednesday morning that Rivian does not expect any delays to the R2 rollout, which is considered critical for the company’s long-term survival.

“The tornado went through the south end of the plant, ripped the roof off the building, and knocked down some of the plant as well, and so the last 72 hours have been around the clock,” he said. Scaringe added that Rivian has had to adjust how and where it brings certain materials into the factory to continue R2 production.

However, he emphasised that the company’s overall production roadmap remains unchanged. “We’re not making any changes to the plan,” he said.

Scaringe was not asked during the interview when Rivian would begin deliveries of the R2. The company has previously stated that it expects to start shipping R2 SUVs before the end of the first half of 2026.

The start of R2 production represents a major milestone for Rivian. It is the first vehicle in the company’s lineup designed with mass-market reach in mind, priced significantly lower than its existing R1 models. It is also seen as a key step toward achieving profitability after years of heavy losses on each vehicle sold.

The company has set ambitious targets for the model. Earlier this year, Rivian told investors it expects to deliver between 20,000 and 25,000 R2 SUVs by the end of 2026. If achieved, the R2 would rank among the fastest-scaling new electric vehicles in U.S. history, second only to Tesla’s Model Y.

However, Rivian is launching the R2 at a higher price point than initially expected. The launch edition starts at $57,990, significantly above the $45,000 price tag the company previously promoted. A slightly lower-priced version at $53,990 is expected later this year. The company does not plan to offer an R2 below $50,000 until the first half of 2027, while a true base model starting at $45,000 is now expected in late 2027.

Even that entry price is uncertain. When Rivian announced pricing for the SUV in March, it described the base model as starting “around $45,000,” rather than the firm “$45,000” figure it had previously advertised on its website as recently as February.