The Sunday Drive, Rivian Week in Review, July 20 to July 26, 2026
Rivian halts Half Moon Grey R2 deliveries, sues the federal government over tariff refunds, and puts out a charging adapter warning. Plus R2 battery pack costs, a tire efficiency breakdown,… · Rivian
Patrol EV Builds Atlanta Fire Rescue an All-Electric Rivian R1T Response Vehicle
Atlanta Fire Rescue has added an all-electric Rivian R1T to its fleet, converted by Patrol EV into a Quick Intervention vehicle built to reach medical calls fast without rolling out a full-sized engine. The upfit includes a dedicated auxiliary power system, a full Federal Signal lighting and siren package, custom bed storage for patient gear, EV Sportline running boards, and Team 1EV steel wheels, with the vehicle now entering regular service.
R2 VIN Assignments Climb Into the 4100s as Deliveries Lag
A friend of the site had his R2 VIN assigned in the low 4100s, a sign Rivian keeps moving reservation holders forward. Deliveries still look slower than expected though, with plenty of R2 sitting in Normal and some owners left waiting on vague “final checks” while software update 2026.24 begins rolling out.
Rivian Offers Up to $5,000 Off 2026 R1T and R1S Builds
Rivian is offering discounts of $1,000 to $5,000 on in-stock 2026 R1T and R1S models as they get ready for the 2027 lineup.
California’s New $3,500 EV Rebate Exempts Rivian From the Price Cap
California’s new $3,500 instant EV rebate has a $50,000 price cap, and Rivian is written straight out of it. Here is what that means for R2 buyers, and why existing owners are shut out.
The Sunday Drive, Rivian Week in Review, July 6 to July 12, 2026
Good week. From July 6 through July 12, we got a real R2 fast-charging test, invite windows started moving up, and Launch…
2026.24.40
R2 software 2026.24 brings the R2 several features R1 owners have taken for granted. Pet Comfort, Gear Guard, Launch Mode, garage door pairing, and in-vehicle WiFi hotspot all land in this build, along with a long list of fixes across charging, vehicle access, and infotainment.
Rivian Grew in Q2 While the EV Market Fell Over 20%
The overall EV market fell more than 20% year over year in Q2. Rivian went the other way, up 7.6%, with early R2 deliveries already in the mix. Growing while the rest of the market shrank, just as the R2 begins its ramp, says more than the raw number does.
R2 Performance Hits 3.45 Seconds, Faster Than Rivian’s Own 0 to 60
Wassym teased Launch Mode coming to the R2 Performance, and the clip shows a 0 to 60 of 3.45 seconds, quicker than Rivian’s own stated 3.6.
Rivian R2 Invite Windows Are Moving Up for Reservation Holders
Some R2 reservation holders are reporting their invitation windows suddenly shrinking, with one owner watching a four to eight week estimate drop to one to two weeks. It does not mean the truck shows up that fast, but it does move the whole timeline forward, and it hints that Rivian is feeling good about the ramp.
R1T Wins 2026 Edmunds Top Rated Electric Truck for Second Year
The R1T just took the Edmunds Top Rated Electric Truck award for 2026, its second win in a row, with a 7.9 rating and 390 miles in real-world range testing.