RJ Scaringe Says Rivian R3 Will Undercut R2 Pricing

Rivian fans got a little surprise last week when RJ Scaringe sat down with the Rotary Club of Atlanta and casually confirmed something we’ve all been wondering about, the R3 is going to come in noticeably cheaper than the R2. That’s a big deal because Rivian has been holding firm on the R2’s starting price, saying a $45k variant is still on track for the 2026 launch. Hearing RJ say the R3 undercuts that adds a whole new layer of excitement for folks who want something smaller, lighter, and even more affordable.

There’s still plenty we don’t know. RJ didn’t give numbers, and Rivian is keeping the actual pricing structure close for now. And just to be clear, he was talking specifically about the standard R3, not the R3X. The R3X is expected to be the higher priced performance version, so this cheaper base pricing applies to the regular R3.

Either way, it’s another strong sign that Rivian is serious about making the R3 lineup a true mass market play. Once the company gets through the R2 launch and ramps things up, the R3 could easily become the one that brings a whole new wave of owners into the Rivian ecosystem.