Rivian is stepping up production of its all-new midsize SUV as customer demand scales up. The electric vehicle startup is preparing to add a second shift to the R2 assembly line at its factory in Normal, Illinois, by the end of the third quarter.
The manufacturing acceleration comes shortly after Rivian officially began R2 customer deliveries in early June. During a recent investor call, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe confirmed that hundreds of suppliers are coordinating to ramp up production capacity smoothly alongside the Illinois facility (via InsideEVs).
Ramping Production for Mass-Market Demand
The R2 serves as Rivian’s first mass-market play to compete directly with Tesla’s Model Y (check out our full comparison between the R2 and Model Y, as well as recent efficiency testing between the two). Initial momentum is already showing on financial balance sheets, as Rivian handily outpaced its Q2 delivery outlook off the back of early R2 handoffs — even though June deliveries represented less than a month of customer shipments.
Strong early interest in the R2 includes over 200,000 reservations and 57,000 completed demo drives. Scaringe noted that many buyers are transitioning away from gas vehicles for the first time:
“The U.S. automotive marketplace is starved for high-quality EV choice, and I believe R2 is an attractively priced option for everyday adventures that will resonate with a broad set of consumers.”
To keep up with early reservation holders, adding a double shift helps the company push toward profitability on its newest platform.
Lineup Expansion and Georgia Factory Plans
Seeing enough demand to warrant opening a second assembly shift bodes well for cheaper R2 models coming down the pipeline. Customers are currently taking delivery of the top-spec R2 Performance, which features dual-motor All-Wheel Drive, 656 horsepower, 330 miles of EPA-estimated range, a native Tesla-style NACS port, and a starting price of $57,990.
Buyers looking at lower price points will have to wait for a while, though. Rivian plans to launch a less-performant (and more affordable) Premium trim by the end of this year, followed by an entry-level $45,000 Standard Rear-Wheel Drive variant in 2027 that’s expected to deliver around 275 miles of range.
While the Normal, Illinois, plant is handling early R2 volume, long-term scaling relies on additional real estate. Rivian is currently constructing a second factory in Georgia, which is scheduled to begin mass-producing the full R2 lineup (as well as other future models) in 2028. Adding shifts in Illinois ensures production volume keeps climbing alongside demand until the second facility comes online.
