Rivian Sets June 9 for First Customer Deliveries of R2 SUV

Rivian will begin delivering its highly anticipated R2 electric SUV to customers on June 9, marking a major milestone for the automaker as it prepares to transition from premium niche vehicles to a higher-volume segment of the EV market. The company will also begin sending purchase invitations to reservation holders and open public test drives on the same day.

The launch represents one of the most important moments in Rivian’s history, with CEO RJ Scaringe previously describing the R2 as potentially the company’s most significant product to date.

Rivian opens ordering and test drives for the R2

While Rivian’s online configurator became available several weeks ago, June 9 marks the first day reservation holders can officially convert their reservations into firm vehicle orders.

The company plans to send order invitations in batches, with placement influenced primarily by reservation date and proximity to a Rivian Service and Demo Center. Customers who reserved earlier and live closer to Rivian facilities are expected to receive invitations first, according to Quartz.

Once an order is finalized, delivery is expected within approximately two to six weeks. Rivian said customers nearing the end of an existing vehicle lease may be able to coordinate delivery timing if lease information has been added to their account.

Public demo drives will also begin on June 9 at Rivian locations across the United States, giving prospective buyers their first opportunity to experience the R2 before ordering.

The Launch Package, which starts at $57,990, will be the first version delivered. Premium variants are expected to arrive later in 2026, while Standard configurations are not currently expected until early 2027.

R2 becomes central to Rivian’s growth and profitability plans

The R2 is widely viewed as Rivian’s most important upcoming vehicle because it targets a significantly larger audience than the company’s existing R1T pickup and R1S SUV.

Positioned closer to mainstream electric crossovers such as the Tesla Model Y, the R2 is expected to eventually offer a starting price around $45,000, though Rivian has indicated that lower-cost versions will not arrive until 2027.

The automaker confirmed last month that saleable R2 production had already begun at its Normal, Illinois manufacturing facility, with early vehicles initially allocated to employees.

Industry estimates suggest Rivian could deliver as many as 25,000 R2s before the start of 2027, with most production concentrated during the second half of 2026.

Together with the upcoming R3 hatchback, the R2 is expected to play a crucial role in Rivian’s efforts to increase sales volume, improve manufacturing efficiency, and move closer to achieving sustained profitability.

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