Rivian R2

Rivian’s R2 is shaping up to be a game-changer, and CEO RJ Scaringe just shared a key upgrade. The new Maximus drive unit uses continuous winding in the stator, cutting welds per stator assembly from 264 (on Enduro) to just 24. Fewer welds mean faster production, lower costs, and improved reliability—exactly what Rivian needs to make the R2 more affordable. With innovations like this, Rivian is clearly pushing to optimize efficiency while keeping performance high.

Rivian hasn’t shared an update on R2 reservation numbers since July 2024, when Rivian VP of Manufacturing Tim Fallon said they had “well over 100,000.” Since then, nothing. It’s not because demand is weak—it’s actually the opposite. But there are a few smart reasons why they’re keeping quiet. First, there’s the investor angle. Big reservation numbers sound great, but they also bring pressure. If Rivian announced 300,000 reservations, people would immediately ask: “Can they actually build that many?” By keeping…

Rivian shared big updates on the R2 in yesterday’s Q4 2024 webinar. The team is focused on cost control and production efficiency. They just finished sourcing materials and completed tooling trials for key body panels. This moves the R2 closer to production. The R2’s design is built for simplicity. Rivian is using large high-pressure die castings instead of many smaller parts. This reduces connection points and speeds up production. Fewer parts also help cut costs, making the R2 more affordable. Winter testing is…

We bought a second electric vehicle and this offer was so crazy we could not pass up on it. If you are in the Florida area, check out this Leasehackr offer:

Back in August, Rivian shared that they were taking the R2 on a road trip to various cities around the United States and Canada. Rivian has now announced some additional cities and date changes to the R2 Roadtrip which you can see below. Note: R3X is expected to make guest appearances along the way.