R2 Launch Watch

[RodorW]

Scout is already a year(s) behind on production. They need to get up and running as fast and cleanly as possible. Adding more supply chains, processes, etc. for BEV throws in a variable they can't afford until production is ramped and running smoothly. Especially when over 80% are PHEV...it's not like we're looking at 50/50 mix, even if reservation holders flake out the market has spoken.

Current deliveries are now set for mid 2028 right? That means 2028 will be focused on PHEV, no reason to potentially bug things up during that first critical year. I could see BEV coming in 2029 however I don't want to be a guinea pig on an early car, I'm mentally setting myself up for a 2030 MY delivery. That is assuming priorities/other vehicles/etc. don't get in the way first.

While the market can speak for what the majority of people might want scouts goal should and most likely will be to deliver reservations first and if reservation holders are complete with plug-in, hybrids faster than the anticipate they will switch over to working battery electric off the assembly line battery electrics are also more likely to be less problematic once they are out of the factory because it is a simple, single power train from a new company that will not have a massive amount of Service centers ready to go at lunch

 

[J Alynn]

I imagine the assembly from the EREV is more complex (but do to intentional engineering not significantly so)…it actually makes more sense after a few weeks of erev assembly to move to 1:5 bev to erev. Same assembly line just the Bev skips a station or two. So it may take 20 hours of touch time for the BEV and 24+ for the erev. Same line, same process just skipping a station or two is how I imagine it. No retooling or changes between shifts if a Bev vs erev is coming down the line.

Ideally I agree but I wonder if just skipping is a little too simple and maybe cart parts are set up. But I’d prefer your way for sure if they can still be as efficient

 

[Sockdoc]

Ideally I agree but I wonder if just skipping is a little too simple and maybe cart parts are set up. But I’d prefer your way for sure if they can still be as efficient

Yes I am a simpleton…I am sure it’s not as simple as I suggest, but in theory I think this is the plan to have them all running down a single assembly line. Stamping and paint should be identical.

 

[Scoutsie]

I don’t think anyone can know what the future has in store. We’ve got a presidential election in a couple years, we’ve got who knows what coming with gas prices (if you were to tell me 10 years ago that people would, in 10 years, decide that we were going to pivot from moving more towards EV adoption and slide back towards a gas-hybrid situation, I would have been shocked at that regression and frankly I still am). Speculating isn’t really my bag these days, but I’ve got a few decks of tarot cards and I figure it’s about as reliable as choosing funds for my 401K since it’s all a numbers a game. “Past performance isn’t indicative of future success” and all. Who’s to say? Happy to be patient, but I’m hoping 2028ish is on the money.

 

[Scout_Lookout]

Rivian just sent me an email with a summary of the media coverage from the R2 Launch - They also posted it in Rivian Stories. I have not watched them. LOL

To mark the launch of R2 on June 9, we brought a select group of journalists and creators to Utah to put R2 Performance with Launch Package through its paces across every type of terrain.​

Get their unfiltered reviews in the links below. We’ve also included some of our favorite R2 photos and quotes from the event. We can’t wait for you to drive R2 for yourself.
View attachment 16414


ArsTechnica
First Drive: The 2027 Rivian R2 entirely changes the EV game

Car and Driverhttps://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a71483800/2027-rivian-r2-drive/
2027 Rivian R2 First Drive: From Normal, Is Normal

CNBChttps://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/09/rivian-r2-suv-tesla-competition.html?&qsearchterm=rivian
Rivian is betting on its R2 EV to turn the automaker into a household name like Tesla

Detroit Free Press
Rivian R2 EV gets all A’s on the highway, off road and for new AI tech

The Drive
Somehow, Rivian's Cheaper R2 Is Its Most Refined Vehicle

The Drivehttps://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2027-rivian-r2-first-drive-review
2027 Rivian R2 First Drive Review: The Perfect Car for So Many People

Edmundshttps://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2027-rivian-r2-first-drive-review.html
2027 Rivian R2 First Drive Review: So Competent It's Almost Boring, and That's a Good Thing

Electrek
Rivian R2 First Drive: This is everything I need to upgrade my Model Y except…

Engadget
2027 Rivian R2 first drive: Rivian's second SUV is its best yet

InsideEVshttps://insideevs.com/reviews/798129/rivian-r2-first-drive-review/
I Had High Expectations For The Rivian R2. It Still Blew Me Away.

Jalopnikhttps://www.jalopnik.com/2190083/2027-rivian-r2-ev-suv-first-drive-review/
2027 Rivian R2 Is Even Better Than You Hoped

Men’s Journalhttps://www.mensjournal.com/gear/rivian-r2-electric-suv-car-review
The Rivian R2 Is the Best New Car I’ve Driven in Years

MotorTrendhttps://www.motortrend.com/reviews/first-drive-2027-rivian-r2-performance
2027 Rivian R2 Performance First Drive

MotorWeekhttps://motorweek.org/first-impressions/first-drives/2027-rivian-r2/
2027 Rivian R2 First Drive

Newsweekhttps://www.newsweek.com/r2-is-the-newest-and-oldest-rivian-vehicle-12046281
R2 Is the Newest and Oldest Rivian Vehicle

RivianTrackr
Rivian R2 First Drive On Road and Off Road

Road & Trackhttps://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/a71526409/2027-rivian-r2-first-drive/
The 2027 Rivian R2 Is Easy to Love

SlashGearhttps://www.slashgear.com/2190177/2...rive-review-price-range-performance-off-road/
2027 Rivian R2 First Drive: For The Money, The Best EV So Far

The Vergehttps://www.theverge.com/transportation/946398/rivian-r2-review-price-specs-ai-ev
The Rivian R2 is too much fun to let drive itself

TopGearhttps://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/usa/rivian/r2-us
Rivian R2 (US) review

USA Todayhttps://www.usatoday.com/videos/car...d-suv-aims-for-the-ev-sweet-spot/90462847007/
Rivian R2 preview: AI-powered SUV aims for the EV sweet spot

US News
2027 Rivian R2 First Drive: An R1 for Everyone

Wallpaperhttps://www.wallpaper.com/transport...an-have-launched-their-all-important-r2-model
All-electric SUV specialists Rivian have launched their all-important R2 model

WIREDhttps://www.wired.com/story/rivian-r2-first-drive/
Rivian R2 First Drive: The Rivian for the Masses

Kim Java

The Rivian R2 Gets Almost Everything Right

JerryRigEverything

RIVIANS R2 MATRIX HEADLIGHTS ARE INSANE

Jenna Ezarik

I Drove the New Rivian R2: My Honest Thoughts

SavageGeese

2027 Rivian R2 | Easier to Pitch a Tent

Jon Rettinger

Can it beat Tesla? The NEW Rivian R2

Snazzy Labs

Rivian's $45,000 Model Y Killer Is Here

TFL

Surprising Secrets of The 2026 Rivian R2 with the Chief Engineer!

What’s Inside?

Can you ACTUALLY Camp in a Rivian R2?

Out of Spec Reviewshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCq0nzYJlQ8
I Drive The Rivian R2 For The First Time! They Pretty Much Nailed It

Have you driven one yet? Do you want or are you planning to?

 

[R1TVT]

Have you driven one yet? Do you want or are you planning to?

No, and not planning to go out of my way to do that with no intention of buying one. I have an R1T and a Terra pre-order - no SUV for me.

I would like to see them sell the crap out of them though and hope for strong sales. I think that will actually be quite good for Scout, based on projected delivery timelines. Scout will have new reservation holders come into the market over the next couple of years too.

 

[cyure]

No, and not planning to go out of my way to do that with no intention of buying one. I have an R1T and a Terra pre-order - no SUV for me.

I would like to see them sell the crap out of them though and hope for strong sales. I think that will actually be quite good for Scout, based on projected delivery timelines. Scout will have new reservation holders come into the market over the next couple of years too.

Plus maybe BloNo will finally get a Trader Joe’s and maybe even a Costco with all these Rivian employees moving to the area.

 

[Scout_Lookout]

No, and not planning to go out of my way to do that with no intention of buying one. I have an R1T and a Terra pre-order - no SUV for me.

I would like to see them sell the crap out of them though and hope for strong sales. I think that will actually be quite good for Scout, based on projected delivery timelines. Scout will have new reservation holders come into the market over the next couple of years too.

I absolutely agree that I want them to be massive success as well and by way propel the company to be one of the leading EV automakers in the world!

Having driven one I can absolutely see this to be the case. Rivian absolutely nailed it with this little car. It has the full spirit and feel of driving a Rivian and one of my favorite attributes was when driving the hood feels massive, and it makes you feel like you're in a much bigger vehicle than you are, which I think most people will like and is the complete opposite of what it feels like driving a Model Y. Additionally, the R2 feels complete, extremely well thought out and the back seat space is incredible!

However, being an R1 owner makes one thing abundantly clear and that is you get quite a bit less in the R2. The screens are smaller, the level of luxury is less, and IMO the ride is a little rougher even though I drove one with AT's and in the moderate suspension setting. Of course this is by design and rightfully so given the price point.

R2 will undoubtedly be a wildly successful product and it will absolutely bring in EV adopters and make possible for those who have been wanting to join the Rivian culture much more accessible. But for current R1 owners I think it will be highly unlikely that they will step down to a R2 both physically and metaphorically speaking lol!

 

[Gottesacker]

Yes I am a simpleton…I am sure it’s not as simple as I suggest, but in theory I think this is the plan to have them all running down a single assembly line. Stamping and paint should be identical.

I think the way y'all described it will likely be the case. The major differences between the two are under the skin, and one body panel. I suppose the software that's installed too, but that might be on a pre-loaded module that's then dropped in. If that's the case, then the major difference between EV and Harvester would be right at the beginning. After that, assembly would continue as normal between the two. I assume.

 

[R1TVT]

I absolutely agree that I want them to be massive success as well and by way propel the company to be one of the leading EV automakers in the world!

Having driven one I can absolutely see this to be the case. Rivian absolutely nailed it with this little car. It has the full spirit and feel of driving a Rivian and one of my favorite attributes was when driving the hood feels massive, and it makes you feel like you're in a much bigger vehicle than you are, which I think most people will like and is the complete opposite of what it feels like driving a Model Y. Additionally, the R2 feels complete, extremely well thought out and the back seat space is incredible!

However, being an R1 owner makes one thing abundantly clear and that is you get quite a bit less in the R2. The screens are smaller, the level of luxury is less, and IMO the ride is a little rougher even though I drove one with AT's and in the moderate suspension setting. Of course this is by design and rightfully so given the price point.

R2 will undoubtedly be a wildly successful product and it will absolutely bring in EV adopters and make possible for those who have been wanting to join the Rivian culture much more accessible. But for current R1 owners I think it will be highly unlikely that they will step down to a R2 both physically and metaphorically speaking lol!

I agree with pretty much everything you are saying, and the R1 could make you "spoilt" for sure, but the "luxury" part of the R1 is actually one reason why I am here. I do truck things. I feel like my R1T is a little too nice for me. I drive around in my ski boots and waders, I overfill the bed with logs and tree branches, I haul sandy SUPs and occasionally tow a boat or shove a canoe precariously into the short bed with the tailgate down. Every time I go to do truck stuff, I worry about how nice it is. LOL. I'm really looking forward to a longer bed, a roll-away rear window and real bumpers.

All of that said, if I wind up in a Terra, I will greatly miss the gear tunnel, integrated tonneau cover and probably 4 motors too. Hopefully Scout takes full advantage of the Zonal stuff - this would make the transition very easy (even if the SW is not yet fully baked and we get really good OTA's over time).

I think the way y'all described it will likely be the case. The major differences between the two are under the skin, and one body panel. I suppose the software that's installed too, but that might be on a pre-loaded module that's then dropped in. If that's the case, then the major difference between EV and Harvester would be right at the beginning. After that, assembly would continue as normal between the two. I assume.

I see much more complexity with the EREV on the assembly line, particularly with routing wiring, exhaust, air intake, additional harnesses and safety features, but I am not a supply chain or production expert. The BEV is just a much more simple build (without all of the stuff that surrounds the generator ) - not to mention the additional system, safety & quality assurance checks that will need to take place with the EREV.

 

[Gottesacker]

I see much more complexity with the EREV on the assembly line, particularly with routing wiring, exhaust, air intake, additional harnesses and safety features, but I am not a supply chain or production expert. The BEV is just a much more simple build (without all of the stuff that surrounds the generator ) - not to mention the additional system, safety & quality assurance checks that will need to take place with the EREV.

Well, I'm sure there is more to it than a minute or two, haha. I just think the majority of the building process will be very similar, after the initial drivetrain install.

 

[strider]

Scout is already a year(s) behind on production. They need to get up and running as fast and cleanly as possible. Adding more supply chains, processes, etc. for BEV throws in a variable they can't afford until production is ramped and running smoothly. Especially when over 80% are PHEV...it's not like we're looking at 50/50 mix, even if reservation holders flake out the market has spoken.

Sorry, your statement doesn't make sense. The PHEV is the version that requires way more supply chains, processes, etc. The PHEV requires all the stuff as the BEV plus the ICE, fuel tank, extra cooling, etc. The BEV is a much simpler vehicle. Plus the BEV was designed first, the PHEV is still being finalized.

Scout will do whatever they think will get them to profitability the fastest. They also want to beat RAM to market with an EREV truck, not to mention Ford and GM are pivoting back to hybrids for their trucks so there is pressure to get the EREV out first. I'm only 4 years into my MXP so I am fine to wait for my BEV.

Finally, Scout is not "a year(s) behind on production." They said customer deliveries in 2027, that has slipped to early 2028. Having seen this movie a few times with Tesla, I never really believed 2027. At best they would have delivered a handful (like 10) to media, influencers, and insiders at the end of December with volume ramping up into 2028.

All that to say, I see them as being ~3 months behind.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

It’s wild to me that this nonsense continues.

Scout Motors never said “deliveries in 2027.”

They have consistently said "Initial production targeted for 2027."

Here’s the web archive page from 31 October, 2024, a week after reveal.

Scouts always come back

We're designing, engineering, and building the next generation of electric trucks and rugged SUVs for the doers, makers, and explorers. The new Scout® Traveler™ and Terra™ models are here, born from the original legend, retooled for a new era.

web.archive.org

Here is the relevant FAQ, which was archived on 17 March 2025:

And another FAQ (towing) that also mentions production plans.

Just because some influencer claimed a delay from an imagined delivery date of 2026 doesn’t mean Scout ever made such a claim. It would have been obvious to anyone paying attention that delivery in 2026 wouldn’t be possible and delivery in 2027 was unlikely. All of the claims of delivery delays have been made-up by people looking for clicks.

 

[cyure]

Good afternoon all. Went to the Rivian factory in Normal today with my son so he could test drive an R2. He has an Elantra N and wants something smaller, hot hatch, and there’s nothing he likes. He likes the pictures he has seen of the R3X. We went today to see if he even liked driving an EV and more specifically a Rivian with no buttons or CarPlay.

Here’s a couple pics of the factory. When you walk up to the counter there’s a giant glass wall behind them and that’s the factory floor, the end of the line so to speak. They told me I could not photograph that.

 

[cyure]

They had two launch edition R2s out front

 

[cyure]

This was a much better experience than when I test drove the R1S. That time they just handed me the keys and left and I didn’t even realize there wasn’t a start\stop button.

Their associate asked if we wanted a walk through and we said yes. She shows him how to adjust his seat, mirrors, and steering wheel. He liked the little wheels that you use to adjust things. He said the seat was comfortable, just the head rest would take a bit to get used to his car has a sport bucket and the headrest is very flat. This one is not.

She showed us how you change the modes and regen levels, etc. he started out with the settings like this.

 

[R1TVT]

More positive feedback on those scroll wheels - they are all the rage for sure. Great design by Rivian to improve the user experience with something even better than a traditional cluster of 30 buttons on a steering wheel with tiny text that you can't even read. Well done Rivian.

 

[cyure]

There is a very long two lane road in front of the factory. They let you take it for 30 minutes on your own. So we went down 15 minutes and came back. He said the one pedal was a little weird, but his car has a setting where you can get rid of creep and he does that so it wasn’t as new to him as it was to me. He floored it a few times when we went out 15 minutes. That’s when I saw the first faint smile on his face.

Then on the way back he put it in sport mode and firm suspension and floored it and I admit he scared the s**t out of me. I don’t know why it felt so different. It’s roughly the same hp as the Supra.

Then we got back and he sat outside and played with all the different screens and settings. He did admit there was a lot and you could be changing settings forever. He still prefers buttons but said this could work for him. He said he liked it better than the haptics in VWs.

As for CarPlay he said the maps looked good and he found the screen that had Spotify, etc so he said that would work. His one question we didn’t get answered was how do you text from the car because he does that quite a bit.

Couple more pictures.

 

[R1TVT]

Once you set up your phone and the Rivian Assistant, (if you want to use it), that takes care of sending and reading all your texts...

 

[cyure]

He asked about when the R3X is expected and the kid behind the desk said yeah that’s the one he is waiting for too. He said it’s going to be made at the Georgia plant and to keep track of the progress there and that the Rivian Reddit group was a good group. So he’s planning on putting down a deposit as soon as they open up.

This is a kid who had no interest in EVs until I started talking about my Scout.

He said he’s also going to keep an eye on Ford because a small EV street truck would interest him.

As for me, I love that glass roof. That solidified my Scout roof decision. I was 90/10, glass/cabana. Now I’m
100% glass.

And if the Scout didn’t exist, the R2 would totally be on my short list.

Oh and one other tidbit, the kid behind the desk said the VIN numbers of the R2s that are going out are a little under 1,000. So about 1,000 going out in the first week.