rivian's latest autonomous electric SUVs: R2, R3 and R3X

Rivian drops three new self-driving electric SUVs

Rivian recently unveiled three midsize electric SUVs in one day, all equipped with 11 cameras, 5 radars, and a computational platform that allow the new series to drive on their own with enhanced autonomous capabilities. After a partnership with Amazon for its delivery trucks, Rivian is back with a new series and comes up with car designs that consolidate and eliminate the use of high-pressure die castings, a structural battery unit where the top of the pack also serves as the floor, and closure systems. In the latest self-driving electric SUVs, these vehicles are equipped with in-house developed networks and computational software to power their independent driving.

images courtesy of Rivian

R2 comes with a motorized rear glass

Each new Rivian self-driving electric SUV deserves a closer look, starting with the R2. Posing as the leader of the pack, R2 brings sleekness and cleanliness to light with its soft-white shade. A feature car fans may appreciate comes through its motorized rear glass that fully drops into the liftgate. This allows the driver to carry all types of gear and equipment while enjoying an open-air driving experience. Stepping inside, the five-person electric SUV has first and second row seatings that fold completely flat for gear, cargo, and car camping, enabling a roomy interior that can accommodate more equipment.

rear view of Rivian’s electric SUV ‘R2’

R3 series for on- and off-road driving

Rivian’s R3 follows next before the youngest sibling, R3X. The first is a midsize electric SUV with a spacious interior and is off-road ready, while the latter is a performance variant of the R3 offering, set for both on- and off-road driving. Exploring the specs of these self-driving electric SUVs, the new Rivian R2 and R3 come in single-motor, dual-motor, and tri-motor (two motors in rear and one in front) configurations, with the quickest one able to deliver a speed from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds. Their battery can deliver over 300 miles of range on a single charge, and their fast-charging capabilities repower the electric vehicles from 10 percent to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes.

Rivian’s R2 comes with a motored rear glass that fully drops into the liftgate

As of publishing the story, Rivian’s R2 starts its pricing at around 45,000 USD while the R3 family’s tag is expected to be lower than that. From March 7th, 2024, SUV fans can reserve their electric SUV R2 in the US for 100 USD, and the deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2026 (R3 and R3X deliveries will start after R2). Rivian says that the three self-driving electric SUVs are set to become available intentionally after their North American launch. Rivian plans to start production of R2 in its existing Normal, Illinois, manufacturing facility, with 215,000 units per year, which suits the site’s total capacity.

inside the electric SUV R2