Rivian is going bigger on its Caruso partnership, adding more than 150 DC fast chargers across Southern California along with two new showrooms opening in 2026. The chargers will be part of the Adventure Network, open to all EVs, and rolling out over the next year at properties like The Grove, Americana, Calabasas, and beyond.
Rivian confirmed today that Borealis won't be available on the R2 Launch Edition and will instead show up later on the R2 Performance trim. Forest Green is still coming to Launch Edition later this year, Coastal Cloud Signature might join the list too, and Esker Silver will be the only no-cost color on R2.
The first video of the production R2's rear wiper is here, and it works exactly like you'd hope it would. Whether that hidden pocket holds up against snow, mud, and trail debris is the real test, and that one is still ahead.
Rivian has filled its top marketing seat. Jenny Lewis, formerly CMO at The Knot Worldwide, is joining as VP, Head of Marketing and eCommerce, ending the stretch where RJ Scaringe had been holding the role in an interim capacity since October 2025. The hire lands right as Rivian heads into its biggest marketing push yet with R2 first drives, the Block Party tour, and a wider brand expansion all on deck.
R2 is launching as a Performance Launch Edition only, and a chunk of what got shown at SXSW isn't available at launch. Some configurations are coming later in 2026, others slip into 2027, and a few combos like Borealis on the single motor Standard aren't ever going to exist.
Rivian's Gear Shop Spring Savings event runs from April 23 through May 3, with discounts on a good mix of accessories and apparel that apply automatically at checkout and stack with Reward points.
R2 production is officially rolling at the Normal plant and customer deliveries are coming later this spring. CFO Claire McDonough confirmed the news in a Reuters interview this morning, along with some pretty wild cost numbers on what R2 is actually going to cost Rivian to build compared to the R1.
Rivian has now put out an official statement confirming that an EF-1 tornado touched down at the Normal Plant Friday night, damaging Building 2 which houses R2 assembly. No injuries, and the company expects to resume operations in that building this week. Operations elsewhere on the campus continue as normal.
Rivian's 2026.07 software update quietly improved DC fast charging in a way owners can actually feel. I pulled my 2025 R1T Tri-Motor Max into an IONNA Rechargery in Orlando today and watched it hold above 200 kW from 14% all the way into the low 50s, going from 14 to 70% in 25 minutes flat. Rivian has since confirmed thermal adjustments were made, with more on the way.
Severe weather through Central Illinois last night reached Rivian's Normal plant, with early photos showing a section of roof caved in on Building 2, the newer addition tied to R2 assembly. The extent of the damage isn't clear yet, and we're holding off on speculation until Rivian or the town puts out something official.
