Rivian just released a new video giving a rare inside look at how R2 is coming together ahead of its 2026 launch. Titled “R2: Design, Powertrain & Electronics,” the short tour shows how teams across the company are scaling to bring their most affordable vehicle to life.
In the Design Studio, Rivian’s team refined R2’s shape while simplifying it for easier production. Over in the Powertrain Lab, they’re testing a brand-new in-house motor called Maximus, built to be smaller and more cost-effective than the Enduro and Ascent units in R1 and EDV.
The Electrical Lab highlights Rivian’s streamlined zonal architecture, custom hardware and software that powers everything from infotainment to autonomy and enables fast, frequent OTA updates.
This isn’t just a sneak peek, it’s a clear sign that Rivian is all-in on scaling smart and moving fast.
At 5:53 in the video there’s a still shot of an R2 being QC’d I imagine. Theres a definite something above the center cameras in the photo. It’s a blink and you miss it moment but sure looks like a Lidar cutout to me that we saw on the previous frame photos.
There sure is 🙂