Rivian (RIVN) stock climbed 0.62% during Tuesday’s session and added another 0.34% in Wednesday’s pre-market trading following confirmation that the electric vehicle manufacturer is secretly working on additional versions of its R2 platform.
During a conversation with Reuters, CEO RJ Scaringe acknowledged these development efforts while declining to provide detailed information. “There are other variants of R2, which we haven’t shown,” Scaringe stated. When questioned about a potential pickup truck configuration, he alluded to a performance-oriented R2X variant. “So clearly there could be an R2X. There’s going to be combinations,” he noted, though quickly added, “I want to be careful not to announce the program.”
The R2 represents a cornerstone of Rivian’s immediate expansion strategy. Full-scale manufacturing has launched at the Normal, Illinois production facility, with vehicles already being delivered to employees. Consumer deliveries are slated to begin approximately in June.
Pricing for the base R2 configuration starts at $58,000. More economical options will roll out later in 2026 and throughout 2027. The most eagerly awaited variant — a $45,000 model delivering more than 275 miles on a single charge — is scheduled for late 2027 and is expected to dramatically expand Rivian’s customer reach.
Scaringe emphasized the importance of the company’s forthcoming Georgia manufacturing site in enabling this variant approach. “What we’re building in Georgia allows for different variations,” he explained. The facility has been engineered to expand R2 manufacturing capacity and accommodate numerous configurations as market demand increases.
Rivian has previously outlined its mid-size vehicle strategy: the R2 sport utility vehicle, the compact R3 crossover, and the performance-focused R3X variant. The additional R2 models Scaringe mentioned complement this lineup but remain officially unannounced.
Rivian projects a 53% increase in vehicle deliveries for the current year. Industry analysts calculate this projection suggests approximately 22,000 to 23,000 R2 units, contingent on smooth production ramp-up and sustained customer demand.
Cantor Fitzgerald’s analyst Andres Sheppard indicated the R2 will likely “materially boost sales” and “capture additional EV market share,” supported by competitive pricing and advanced autonomous driving capabilities.
The R2 also forms the foundation of Rivian’s $1.25 billion autonomous vehicle partnership with Uber (UBER). This collaboration calls for Uber to integrate 10,000 fully autonomous R2 vehicles into its platform beginning in 2028.
Rivian reported a Q1 adjusted operating deficit of $621 million against revenues of approximately $1.4 billion. However, gross profit reached $119 million — significantly exceeding analyst projections — demonstrating improved operational efficiency. The company delivered 10,365 vehicles during the quarter, up from 8,640 in the comparable period last year.
Wall Street analysts currently assign RIVN stock a Moderate Buy consensus rating, derived from 10 Buy recommendations, 8 Hold ratings, and 4 Sell ratings issued over the last three months. The mean price target stands at $18.09, indicating potential upside of approximately 24% from present trading levels.
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