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
Vehicle Trade-In Sales Tax by State (2026 Guide)
Most states only tax the difference when you trade a car in. Four tax you on the full price no matter what your trade is worth. Here’s how all 50 states plus DC handle it.
Forest Edge Interior Returns for Rivian R1, Limited Time
Forest Edge is back for R1, but only as a $9,000 Dual R1 package that bundles the interior with 22″ Sport Dark wheels, the Darkout Package, and Sound + Vision. It hasn’t been orderable since around 2022, and it’s limited time, so the green and wood crowd shouldn’t sit on it.
Rivian Software Chief Wassym Bensaid Talks VW Deal and RV Tech on Decoder
Rivian software chief Wassym Bensaid went on Decoder, and it’s the clearest look yet at the VW deal, why Rivian’s software culture is the real asset, and what RV Tech means for every future EV from Audi to Scout.
Rivian R2 Ordering Opens June 9th With Performance Launch Edition at $57,990
R2 ordering is officially open as of June 9th, starting with the Performance Launch Edition only at $57,990. You’re getting 656 hp, semi-active suspension, around 330 miles of range, and the full Launch Package, with current R1 owners getting priority and first deliveries targeted for 2-6 weeks from the date.
Should You Buy or Lease the Rivian R2 Launch Edition
Leasing is confirmed for the R2 Launch Edition from day one, which is new territory for Rivian, and if you’re trying to figure out how to pay for yours, I’d lean lease. Not for the money, but because R2 is a brand-new platform arriving right before LiDAR lands in late 2026, and that’s hardware you can’t add to an early build later. Here’s the case for leasing, the case for buying, and why I’m personally doing the opposite of what I’d tell you to.
What the Next-Generation Rivian R1 Could Bring in 2027
The 2027 model year R1 is probably going to be a light refresh while Rivian keeps its head down on R2, so I’m looking past it to the next-generation R1 expected around summer 2027. Here’s my full wishlist, from captain’s chairs and the R2 LiDAR system to 800V, vehicle to home charging, and a battery that stops thermal limiting the second things heat up.
The $130 Federal EV Fee Explained and How It Compares to Gas Tax
The House wants EV owners paying $130 a year to the feds, and after running it against what gas drivers actually put into the Highway Trust Fund, the number is more defensible than the reaction. The real problem isn’t the size of the fee, it’s that they made it flat, so the person babying their R1S around town pays exactly the same as the one stacking 25,000 miles a year.
The Sunday Drive, Rivian Week in Review, May 18 to May 24, 2026
Software week. RivianOS 2.0 got confirmed for R2 at launch, Wassym ran an R2 software AMA on Thursday, the self-driving roadmap we’d been waiting on finally dropped, and it turns out the entire R2 lineup is getting a heat pump.
Rivian R2 AMA, Autonomy, Audio, Heat Pump and More
Rivian’s software and autonomy leads jumped into a Reddit AMA and ended up spilling more concrete R2 detail than we’ve gotten in a while. Wassym handled most of it, with James stepping in for the self driving questions. From point to point autonomy timelines and the edge compute bet to the heat pump, the charging mat retrofit, and why the premium audio actually works, here’s everything worth knowing.
Rivian Just Quietly Dropped the R2 Self-Driving Roadmap We’ve Been Waiting For
Rivian’s autonomy lead James jumped into today’s R2 Reddit AMA and laid out the self-driving roadmap, and the big takeaway is that R2 Performance Launch Package buyers get Autonomy+ bundled in for the life of the car. He also broke down the point-to-point timeline, the stoplight and stop-sign updates coming in the next few months, and why Gen 1 owners shouldn’t sweat the LiDAR question.