News Grower

Independent coverage of AI, startups, and technology.

Ars Technica May 6, 2026 at 12:48 Big Tech Stable Warm

More than just an SUV? Rivian is working on more R2 variants.

Without giving much away, CEO RJ Scaringe teased the idea of an R2 pickup and an R2X.

Signal weather

Stable

The story has moved beyond the first headline and now acts as a reliable context anchor.

By Jonathan M. Gitlin Original source
More than just an SUV? Rivian is working on more R2 variants.

We don't have too much longer to wait for Rivian's hotly anticipated R2 electric SUV. After cutting its teeth with the ground-breaking R1T electric pickup truck, plus the three-row SUV version (the R1S) and all those Amazon delivery vans, its next step is something smaller and more affordable—launch models of the midsize R2 are competitively priced against rivals like the BMW iX3, and next year if all goes to plan, Rivian will add a $45,000 R2 with a smaller battery. But according to Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, who was interviewed by Reuters, there's more R2 in the works. "So clearly there could be an R2X," Scaringe told Reuters. "There's ⁠going to be combinations... I want to be careful not to announce the program," he said. Scaringe also told the news organization that Rivian was considering making its own lidar sensors, in collaboration with a Chinese company. Initial R2s are being built at Rivian's factory in Normal, Illinois. But the R2, together with an even smaller R3 (and R3X) that will follow it, will also be built at Rivian's new factory in Georgia. That plant is due to come online in 2028, funded in part by a $4.5 billion loan from the Department of Energy, which Rivian will begin to access next year. Read full article Comments

Stay on the signal

Follow More than just an SUV? Rivian is working on more R2 variants.

Follow this story beyond a single article: new follow-ups, adjacent sources, and the evolving storyline.

We send a confirmation link first, then only meaningful digests.

Story map

Understand this topic fast

A quick entry into the story: why it matters now, who is involved, and where to go next for context.

Why it matters now

This story is still moving and pulling follow-up coverage.
There are already 6 connected articles in the same storyline to continue from here.
The story keeps orbiting around CEO RJ Scaringe, R2X. Ars Technica, and Rivian, so the entity pages are the fastest way to build context.
Ars Technica already has 4 follow-up stories on the same theme.

Topic constellation

Open the live map for this story

See which entities, story threads, sources, and follow-up articles shape this story right now.

Click nodes to continue

Entity Cluster Article Hub Source

Story timeline

Continue with this story

A short sequence of events and follow-up stories to understand the arc quickly.

Jun 9, 2026 at 16:46 TechCrunch

Rivian starts deliveries of its all-important R2 SUV

Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe has called it "maybe the most important thing we've launched to date."

Jun 9, 2026 at 13:00 Ars Technica

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

Rivian's second EV is the sub-$60,000 R2, and it was worth the wait.

May 28, 2026 at 14:41 TechCrunch

Rivian under investigation over rear suspension failures on R1 models

At least two owners have lost control of their vehicles after a critical suspension component broke. In both cases, the vehicles had been...

May 27, 2026 at 21:15 TechCrunch

Rivian will deliver the first R2 SUVs on June 9

The company has finally set a date for the first customer deliveries of what CEO RJ Scaringe has said is "maybe the most important thing ...

May 15, 2026 at 20:30 TechCrunch

RJ Scaringe has raised more than $12B across three startups and investors still want more

Investors can't seem to get enough of RJ Scaringe or his ideas. Storytelling and communication are one of his superpowers, according to J...

May 6, 2026 at 12:48 Ars Technica

More than just an SUV? Rivian is working on more R2 variants.

Without giving much away, CEO RJ Scaringe teased the idea of an R2 pickup and an R2X.

How reliable this looks

Signal and trust for Ars Technica

This source works at a steady pace: 100% of recent stories land in the hot window, and 0% carry visible search signal.

Trusted

Reliability

92

Freshness

100

Sources in storyline

2

Related articles

More stories that share tags, source, or category context.

TechCrunch Jun 18, 2026 at 19:31 Startups
Rising Hot

Rivian owners file lawsuit alleging false promises on self-driving features

Plaintiffs in the class -action complaint allege Rivian falsely promised for years it would bring hands-free driving to its first-generation R1 vehicles.

Signal weather

Momentum is building quickly, so this card is a good early entry point into the topic.

Why now

Fresh coverage with immediate momentum.

TechCrunch Jun 18, 2026 at 18:00 Startups
Rising Hot

Rivian owners sue over false promises on self-driving features

Plaintiffs in the class action complaint allege Rivian falsely promised for years it would bring hands-free driving to its first-generation R1 vehicles.

Signal weather

Momentum is building quickly, so this card is a good early entry point into the topic.

Why now

Fresh coverage with immediate momentum.

TechCrunch Jun 16, 2026 at 17:48 Startups
Rising Hot

Rivian cuts hundreds of workers after R2 deliveries start

The company said the cuts were part of a restructuring meant to help scale to profitability. Rivian recently pushed back its profitability goal to invest in autonomy.

Signal weather

Momentum is building quickly, so this card is a good early entry point into the topic.

Why now

Fresh coverage with immediate momentum.

More from Ars Technica

Fresh reporting and follow-up coverage from the same newsroom.

Open source page