After launching with full-sized pick-up trucks and SUVs, Rivian is ready to roll out a smaller SUV with greater global appeal. The UK has been confirmed; could Australia be next?
Electric Cars
US electric car brand Rivian has its sights set on the UK, and with right-hand drive production underway, an Australian launch could also be on the cards.
A report by Britain’s Autocar reveals that the Rivian R2 medium SUV is planned for a European introduction, including right-hand drive production for the UK market.
Rivian’s rollout for the R2 should see the model enter production and go on sale in the USA in the first half of 2026, with a European introduction in left-hand drive to follow.
No timing has been set for the UK launch, but right-hand drive production looks set to ramp up once mainland European distribution is established.
Speaking with Autocar, Rivian founder, RJ Scaringe, said that Rivian’s European position would be as a brand that “remains highly aspirational but highly attainable”.
Pricing for the Rivian R2 in the US is expected to start at around $US45,000 ($AU68,100), aligning it closely with the starting price of the similarly-sized Tesla Model Y, from $US44,990.
The larger Rivian R1S SUV currently starts from $US78,450 ($AU118,700) and stretches to $US107,700 ($AU162,970).
Rivian revealed the R2 and smaller R3 crossover hatchback in March 2024.
At the time, a Rivian spokesperson said that there were no plans for an Australian launch, saying only that the R2 and R3 were planned to be available internationally.
Now with right-hand drive production for the UK locked in, and vehicles that meet European regulations, which closely mirror those required in Australia, the Rivian R2 moves a massive step closer to a potential Australian introduction.
At the reveal, Rivian planned for a choice of two battery options and either single-motor rear-wheel drive or dual-motor and tri-motor all-wheel drive powertrains.
Driving range on the larger battery pack was targeted at over 300 miles, or 483km in US EPA testing, or 550km by WLTP standards, and the tri-motor version was targeting a 0-60mph (0-97km/h) acceleration time of under three seconds.
Following the reveal of the R2, R3, and related R3X, Rivian updated the R1T pick-up truck and R1S SUV with new batteries, motors, and electronics systems, providing a preview of the modular components expected to be utilised across the smaller models.
Rivian’s electronic architecture is also set to be used across upcoming Volkswagen Group models, starting with the compact ID.1 in 2026.
Rivian also builds an electric delivery van for Amazon, which owns an 18.1 per cent stake in the company
Unusually, Rivian’s global expansion plans leave out one of the world’s largest EV markets, China, instead focusing on the US and Europe.
Rivian production currently takes place entirely within the United States, with a factory in the state of Illinois and another planned for Georgia.
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Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
