Rivian plans to build up to 175k R2 per year at Normal Plant (says RJ)

[ACDC]

RJ Scaringe had an interview with Stripe yesterday in which he confirmed that Rivian plans to build up to 175K R2 per year at the Normal plant!

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[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

So two podcast-ish features now UK-ish channels? RJ is paving the way for R2 export.

 

[portdirect]

So two podcast-ish features now UK-ish channels? RJ is paving the way for R2 export.

I was planning on buying my folks an R2 soon as they became viable in the UK a few months ago - but they will need to massively invest in the SC story before that even becomes remotely viable now.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I was planning on buying my folks an R2 soon as they became viable in the UK a few months ago - but they will need to massively invest in the SC story before that even becomes remotely viable now.

RJ has already said "limited export". He knows he can't export en masse without investments in support. But that doesn't mean he doesn't need to pave the way by priming interest and increasing brand awareness.

 

[BigSkies]

Complete speculation here.

I suspect Normal will be dedicated to US sales initially. For context, Tesla sold ~370k Model Y's in the US in 2024. I think Rivian can plausibly plan to sell ~175k/yr in the US.

Georgia is supposed to be R2 and R3. They'll probably set up GA for export variants.

 

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

Complete speculation here.

I suspect Normal will be dedicated to US sales initially. For context, Tesla sold ~370k Model Y's in the US in 2024. I think Rivian can plausibly plan to sell ~175k/yr in the US.

Georgia is supposed to be R2 and R3. They'll probably set up GA for export variants.

Not really speculation. RJ said this multiple times that the Georgia plant would do the exports. So they won't be looking at getting an R2 until 2028.

 

[R2D2TOO]

RJ is damn knowledgable. Such a smart guy. What a great CEO.

 

[iansriv]

I was planning on buying my folks an R2 soon as they became viable in the UK a few months ago - but they will need to massively invest in the SC story before that even becomes remotely viable now.

What a good son! Good on you!

 

[iansriv]

RJ has already said "limited export". He knows he can't export en masse without investments in support. But that doesn't mean he doesn't need to pave the way by priming interest and increasing brand awareness.

A VW SC partnership might be an option for EU.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

A VW SC partnership might be an option.

Possible, but unlikely. The JV does not include joint manufacturing and it might not be beneficial for Rivian to co-manufacture with VW. Platform sharing would require Rivian to share more than just zonal architecture and development stack. R2 capacity at Normal will be 175k units per year. It's possible they could do a small pilot run of RHD units to export and serve as a preview of sorts, before GA is up and running. And RJ talked about it recently (limited export, not tied to schedule at GA).

 

[portdirect]

What a good son! Good on you!

My motivations are less than pure; true they set me up super well in life (education, love etc), and in the most classic scenario of middle class well cared for kids: it took me untill my mid thirties to truly appreciate that. As a result of their belief in me I'm the position where I get to moan that my luxury truck doesn't meet the same level of reliability that my luxury SUV does on the internet () ..... ....But quite a bit of the reason is that I don't want to drive the 23 year old Vauxhall Zafira around when I visit (Damn that thing was well made - it just refuses to die...)

 

[savethemanual]

A VW SC partnership might be an option for EU.

Yes indeed, especially since the VW group will most likely be the one to pick them up if Rivian doesn't make it long term on it's own.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Yes indeed, especially since the VW group will most likely be the one to pick them up if Rivian doesn't make it long term on it's own.

From RJ's cold dead hands.

Exhibit A: Of all parts of Rivian, VW only need software and zonal architecture expertise. Both of which it already has through its partial ownership of the JV. The rest of Rivian it already has and does not need to gain redundancy (at a time when VW Group is slashing jobs and cutting programs in a desperate attempt to cut cost and stay solvent).

Exhibit B: Rivian cost RJ a marriage. It's obviously a passion project, not just a job. And unless you've slept through all of the interviews he's given, he knew at a very young age that he wanted to start a car company. Rivian is his life.

Silly speculation. Sorry. But it is silly.

 

[mkg3]

Yes indeed, especially since the VW group will most likely be the one to pick them up if Rivian doesn't make it long term on it's own.

VW group already owns 14% of Rivian with the current investments they've made. If the follow through with their stated total investments, they will probably end up with the controlling stake in Rivian so they have no real need to buy them. They can control the activities.

 

[savethemanual]

I know RJ will always be involved with the company, it's most certainly his passion project and I love that about him. I'm sure Rivian will make it long term but was just saying IF they don't....VW group seems most logical to step in.

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