
R2 VIN Assignments Pass 11,000 as Rivian Ramps Up
The highest R2 VIN spotted so far is 11491, according to the Rivian Roamer R2 Tracker. That's roughly 2,000 higher than the 9400s we saw at the end of August.

The highest R2 VIN spotted so far is 11491, according to the Rivian Roamer R2 Tracker. That's roughly 2,000 higher than the 9400s we saw at the end of August.

R2 VIN assignments have climbed into the 9400s, with one day one reservation holder going from confirmed order to assigned VIN in just ten days. The pace has held near 115 a day since June, and the gap between assignment and handover finally looks like it is closing.

Rivian service is contacting select R2 owners to inspect the DC fast charging connector-to-header joint for gap and thermal abnormalities, and is recommending owners hold off on DC fast charging until the inspection is done. Nothing has been filed with NHTSA.

R2 buyers are beginning to order Forest Green paint and the Coastal Cloud Signature interior, with owners reporting successful orders and delivery estimates of eight to twelve weeks. Borealis remains on track for September.

The R2 comes with up to eight drive modes, and how many you get depends entirely on your trim. Rivian also gave me the specifics on what Conserve actually changes on this platform, which works nothing like it does on the R1. Here is every mode, what it does, and which trims get it.

Coleton from Out of Spec Detailing measured a customer delivered R2 Performance panel by panel and came away giving it a nine out of ten on exterior fit and finish. The lower interior plastics did not fare as well, and neither did the haptic buttons. Here is how his findings line up with what I have seen on my own R2.

Coastal Cloud and Forest Green land later in August, Borealis follows in September, and all three come to the Launch Package.

Rivian has put a date on the second R2 shift at Normal, September 30, but the company also said the shift will not contribute material volume until the fourth quarter. Here is what that actually means for anyone still holding a reservation.

The R2 tows 4,400 pounds in all-wheel drive form, and we ran it at max weight with Out of Spec on a car hauler. Here is which trims can tow, and what to expect from payload, setup and range.

I drove my new R2 Performance 2,500 miles home from Normal, Illinois to Orlando and put the whole story on video, everything that impressed me along with the bugs and the range scare near the end.