If the R2 Launch Edition price is $54,999

[Great Gatsby]

I’m still convinced it’s going to land right at, or just under, Model Y Performance pricing. If they hit $54,995, it’s game over. They won’t be able to build them fast enough. It’ll move like wildfire. There are literally thousands of Tesla owners who want out. This is their chance.

I want to echo this. A lot of people guessing and keep missing the most obvious clue from RJ. Rivian is very much benchmarking the Model Y, probably give or take a few thousand with the assumption people will pay more for the space and an instrument cluster. Before Tesla made the standard model, the Model Y also started at....you guessed it, $45k. The number did not come out of thin air.

The LE with performance upgrade will likely land around the current performance version of the Model Y with the non-LE will be closer to $50K (just above current Model Y AWD). And not sure how the sales for the Model Y Performance are, but it is a fantastic car and a great deal for the money. With the benefit of not having to deal with the Elon shenanigans, this is not a bad pricing strategy for Rivian to take notes from the best selling EV globally. It is basically copying the playbook that worked and hopefully avoiding the current fumbles of said company.

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[Hereforthesnacks]

Non competitive price.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

With the benefit of not having to deal with the Elon shenanigans, this is not a bad pricing strategy for Rivian to take notes from the best selling EV globally. It is basically copying the playbook that worked and hopefully avoiding the current fumbles of said company

That’s the problem. It’s copying a playbook from 2018 when there was 0 competition and a TON of EV customers that did not have an EV yet.

And, in 2018, there were still plenty of tax credits to go around, making the $45k 2018 MY price actually $37.5k. Eventually the tax credit was halved and then it went to 0 because Tesla sold too much.

So now it’s 2026, the market is saturated, and the initial price is higher. Yes, I would rather get the R2 than a MY. But, you are looking at way less of a market than Tesla did.

Which is why the Tesla playbook is not going to work for 2026.

 

[Ilovejunebugs]

I have a few friends and family members very interested in the R2- but only if they can buy it for $50k or less. They don't care about 0-60 times, but range is important (all say 300-350 miles will make them happy). Overall I find many interested in the Rivian brand- but the main factor (at least what I've heard, at multiple EV events where I've brought my truck) is always price.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I have a few friends and family members very interested in the R2- but only if they can buy it for $50k or less. They don't care about 0-60 times, but range is important (all say 300-350 miles will make them happy). Overall I find many interested in the Rivian brand- but the main factor (at least what I've heard, at multiple EV events where I've brought my truck) is always price.

Unlikely the single motor $45k will have 300 miles; more likely 260-ish. That's just reality of current battery costs. Maybe they'll have a single motor variant with a larger pack that yield more than 300. But it won't be $45k. And I'm skeptical they would build a single motor variant that has as much range as a more expensive dual motor variant. I could be wrong. We'll find out soon enough. And if LE R2 is $55k, non-LE DM large pack R2 is probably only slightly lower from there by a grand or two.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

I have a few friends and family members very interested in the R2- but only if they can buy it for $50k or less. They don't care about 0-60 times, but range is important (all say 300-350 miles will make them happy). Overall I find many interested in the Rivian brand- but the main factor (at least what I've heard, at multiple EV events where I've brought my truck) is always price.

Bingo.

 

[1T2022]

Most likely, the base $45k R2 can only do 260miles, LE R2 probably at 305 miles. We will see soon. Looks like most of us won't be disappointed to see LE R2 in between $55500 and $57,500. It seems fair. I think Rivian will hit this target.

 

[Dark-Fx]

A lot of people, a LOT of people, want to be ABLE to off road even if they will never do it. There's something reassuring about knowing you could jump a curb if the zombie apocalypse breaks out.

I'd say I drive over at least part of a curb about 2 times a month.

It’s been a while and my memory is fuzzy but I feel like Tesla launched versions of the 3 and Y priced for mass adoption pretty quickly. They also hyped and talked about those models and price points. If Rivian just rolls out a $60K+ R2 (which is about 10ak less than the R1 preorders ) with nothing in the 40K range in sight it will be a disaster in my view.

Tesla slow rolled the cheaper trims on the 3. I know because I ended up buying a Bolt EV because I got tired of waiting.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Most likely, the base $45k R2 can only do 260miles, LE R2 probably at 305 miles. We will see soon. Looks like most of us won't be disappointed to see LE R2 in between $55500 and $57,500. It seems fair. I think Rivian will hit this target.

I thought I saw 315 for LE more than once. And, just like R1, it will vary pending wheel/tire package. One appears to be BFG Trail Terrian, which is a on-road AT. I think we've also seen prototypes shod with Goodyear tires.

 

[blipit]

I think the non-launch, dual-motor AWD R2 that gets 320 miles should be $55K or about $10K more than the standard single-motor RWD R2 that probably get under 300 miles with a smaller battery.

The launch model will be closer to $60K, because in reality Rivian has an insane amount of demand for the R2 (200K+ reservations), low production for the rest of 2026 (20K-25K), and they need to make a profit in order to stabilize themselves financially, please their shareholders, and use said profit to continue to expand (make more R2s, Georgia plant, work out production for R3, etc.)

This seems more realistic. $55k for normal Dual/Large non-Perf and $60k for Launch Ed(fully spec Dual Perf w/ LE specific badging). I also think the base $45k R2 will be de-contented more than many think. Making the delta to higher trims levels greater.

 

[blipit]

It’s been a while and my memory is fuzzy but I feel like Tesla launched versions of the 3 and Y priced for mass adoption pretty quickly. They also hyped and talked about those models and price points.

The Model Y "Juniper" Launch Ed was just a regular Long Range Model Y...with FSD, paint, 20in wheels, acceleration boost standard. They charged $60k.

The fact Rivian chose to do a Performance version(R2 LE has yellow brake calipers and badging), tells me this thing is not going to be $55k. Unless they plan to lose money on LE models and then raise prices.

 

[Virtio]

I bet the price will be $59,990 for the LE R2, exactly the same as the new CT. Which would you choose?

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

This seems more realistic. $55k for normal Dual/Large non-Perf and $60k for Launch Ed(fully spec Dual Perf w/ LE specific badging). I also think the base $45k R2 will be de-contented more than many think. Making the delta to higher trims levels greater.

Yeah, the base $45K R2 will be pretty bare bones. Cheaper interior, smaller battery (maybe 270 range), lesser sound system, fewer color choices/interiors/wheels, etc. I don’t think they’ll sell very many. I’m imagining the tri-motor will be quite pricey on the other end. Just look at how they price R1 dual-motors vs. tri-motors. Most sales will fall in the middle like they normally do.

 

[RWerksman]

I think it's going to be literally the exact same price as the performance - $57,500 - assuming it comes with a 'performance pack'. If they are doing an LE with a future performance model, it's likely going to be $54,995 or something like that.

Later models, certainly with the Lidar and Tri-motor config are absolutely going to the $60k+ range and will likely top out $5k to $7.5k under an R1.

I'm curious if they are going to allow current owners to apply any rewards $ to their orders for the LE model.

 

[Hillbilly]

I'm getting old. All this pricing is insane to me even though the wife and I both have Rivians now.

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