rivian confirms more r2 versions comingis one of them a r2t pickup With the R1T and R1S, Rivian proved it can build a product people want, but the automaker's next chapter hinges on something far less glamorous: volume. That's where the R2 comes in. Just days after beginning volume production of the smaller, more affordable SUV, CEO RJ Scaringe confirmed to Reuters the company is working on additional variants of the R2 platform. In typical Rivian fashion, Scaringe stopped well short of spelling out exactly what those might be. "There are other variants of R2, which we haven't shown," Scaringe told the outlet, adding that the company's new Georgia plant was designed with flexibility in mind. One obvious direction is a smaller pickup based on the R2; it would be a unique offering in the EV truck space, where so far, everyone has focused on the full-size market. 2026 New York International Auto Gallery: The Cars You Shouldn't Miss rivian confirms more r2 versions comingis one of them a r2t pickup Rivian has already confirmed that the smaller R3 crossover and the performance-oriented R3X will eventually head to production riding on the same platform as the R2. With that naming logic, an "R2X" isn't exactly a stretch alongside the hypothetical pickup. R2 production is expected to translate into customer deliveries starting around June. Analysts have been firm: the R2 rollout will determine whether Rivian can move beyond its early-adopter audience and into something resembling Tesla's market penetration. The ingredients are there. Rivian has already outlined multiple trims, with the initial launch model priced around $58,000. Less expensive versions are slated to follow, including a roughly $45,000 variant expected by late 2027 with more than 275 miles of range-assuming Rivian can build it in meaningful numbers. The company is projecting a 53% increase in deliveries this year, driven largely by the new model. That works out to somewhere in the range of 22,000 to 23,000 R2 units. The R2 is also central to the company's $1.25 billion partnership with Uber. Starting in 2028, the plan is to deploy up to 10,000 autonomous R2-based vehicles as part of a robotaxi fleet. Uber will have the option to purchase as many as 40,000 additional vehicles starting in 2030. rivian confirms more r2 versions comingis one of them a r2t pickup AutoGuide's Take: Outside of the Uber deal, the EV market is complicated right now. Federal incentives in the U.S. disappeared, borrowing costs remain high given the steep depreciation rate of electric vehicles, and demand has chilled-although Trump's war with Iran is certainly doing its best to push people toward alternative propulsion. Rising gasoline prices have nudged some buyers back toward electrification, particularly in the used market, but there is still a severe lack of affordable options for main street buyers, and expensive gasoline won't change that overnight. 2027 Porsche 911 GT3 S/C: All the Details