This week, Rivian launched orders of its midsize R2 battery-electric SUV for existing reservation-holders. Paired with the beginning of production of the model in late April, it's a massive moment in the history of the company.Rivian plans for R2 to appeal to a wider audience than its all-electric R1S flagship SUV. According to sales figures, midsize SUVs account for one in every six vehicles sold in the U.S. annually, over 3 million units. Full-size SUVs have just 3.5 percent of the overall sales pie.The launch isn't just another box tick for Rivian. In fact, Rivian thought about selling it before the R1S was slated for production, RJ Scaringe, Rivian's founder and CEO, told Newsweek.Profile of Rivian R2 SUV."R2 was contemplated before we even launched R1. R1 was always envisioned as the flagship product, but by virtue of being a flagship product, it's an expensive product, so the average price of another one is over $90,000," he said.AdvertisementAdvertisementScaringe continued: "The launch of R2 is really the culmination of what we thought about well before launching R1, and in fact, a lot of the R1, a lot of R1 designs were influenced by early R2 sketches, which is sort of counterintuitive."While R1S and R2 look similarly sized to the casual observer, there are engineering and design differences that make them stand apart."Well, I think that in a product as complex as a car, there's many ways to digest the product. One is at a distance… That's the proportion, the overall surface treatment, the design aesthetic that the vehicle is embodied with. But then as you walk closer to the vehicle, you start to notice little details… and that's where things really become magical. When you keep getting closer and closer, the design not only doesn't fall apart, but you start to notice new layers of thoughtfulness," Scaringe described.One of his favorite parts of R2 is the rear windshield wiper. He called it a "great example" of one of those magical details, saying, "From a distance, by design, you don't see it, it's hidden. As you get closer, you're like, 'Wait a second, is there a pocket? Okay, there's a pocket.' Then you look in there and you're like, 'Oh, it's a really elegantly executed wiper.'"AdvertisementAdvertisementMore than the individual elements that stand out to make R2 unique, Scaringe notes that R2 is a complete package and a standout overall product."R2 is a really good expression of Rivian. It's not a lesser expression of Rivian than R1. R2 will be the mass market handshake with the world. We're really excited about. We can't wait for that to happen," he said.Related ArticlesRivian CEO Admits Major Fault Drove Away CustomersRivian Eyes Toyota, Subaru Customers With New R2 SUVBoston Dynamics' Robot Dogs Will Be Patrolling the FIFA World Cup 2026 Thanks to HyundaiStart your unlimited Newsweek trial
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