R2 Launch Edition expectations

[DJFrerichs]

You bring up a great point and might be why they are moving the Standard up to Summer of 2027 in lieu of end of 2027. I question if that will hurt their capital gain numbers as the margins have to be thin.

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[Jeremy3292]

Funny you mention LIDAR/RAP1 version...I asked the Rivian Assistant about that if I was able allowed to put in an order and it said it would be an option to select when ordering that would then drive future deliver of. Surprised Rivian is not asking that as a question in the app like they did on if you were interested in a launch edition. I assume they don't want to ask as a suggestion that may cause people to not want the launch edition initially. I also heard in one of the recent review vids that the Non-Launch Edition Performance (assume that is when LIDAR/RAP1 is available) will start in the $55k range. Not sure if that will hold by then, but that is such a small bump from Premium that why wouldn't you go Performance for another $2k if so?

I see this the other way around. The performance trim is and will be $57,990 even after the LE is gone. The LE gives you extra benefits you won't get once it just the normal performance trim, hence the point of it - it's a "good deal". Matches up perfectly with the Model Y performance price too.

 

[Great Gatsby]

I see this the other way around. The performance trim is and will be $57,990 even after the LE is gone. The LE gives you extra benefits you won't get once it just the normal performance trim, hence the point of it - it's a "good deal". Matches up perfectly with the Model Y performance price too.

I foresee them going the way of Tesla once the LE is gone and just make the color add ons free for the performance trim to help entice people up from the premium. That or better financing rates. They have plenty of tools to keep the performance trim desirable, hopefully, as unfortunately the 0-60 is not what is going to sell a lot of these.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Am I wrong to think with the high number of reservations placed in relation to the production numbers ramping up, my chances of ever getting a R2 Launch edition are slim/none since I just put down my $100 on 6/12/26?

Moot to speculate. No one knows how many LEs they will produce or whether they've even made that decision already. It's most likely a fluid situation, pending supply and demand—both of which influence business decisions at any moment. All that is known is as the LE name suggest, not an unlimited-time offering. And once the books close on LE, it's basically a Performance. No big deal.

 

[wnealisr226]

I foresee them going the way of Tesla once the LE is gone and just make the color add ons free for the performance trim to help entice people up from the premium. That or better financing rates. They have plenty of tools to keep the performance trim desirable, hopefully, as unfortunately the 0-60 is not what is going to sell a lot of these.

Unlikely, the R1 still only has 1 "free" color.

 

[emroch]

It's not "basically a Performance", it literally is a Performance. Aside from the exclusive paint color and key fob, it is purely a marketing thing for them to include the tow package and autonomy+ for free. When the LE is no longer available, they are still going to have to build the exact same cars, just with one less paint option.

I think it's reasonable to expect them to allow anyone who reserves before a particular date to order an LE, regardless of when the delivery window is. The fact that you have a reservation now probably means you're good, even if you end up taking delivery at the tail end of the LE window.

That's just my gut feeling though, so take with a grain of salt.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

It's not "basically a Performance", it literally is a Performance. Aside from the exclusive paint color and key fob, it is purely a marketing thing for them to include the tow package and autonomy+ for free. When the LE is no longer available, they are still going to have to build the exact same cars, just with one less paint option.

I think it's reasonable to expect them to allow anyone who reserves before a particular date to order an LE, regardless of when the delivery window is. The fact that you have a reservation now probably means you're good, even if you end up taking delivery at the tail end of the LE window.

That's just my gut feeling though, so take with a grain of salt.

If you want to be pedantic, yes it IS a Performance with difference being what is included and at-additional-charge option... and the resulting out-the-door difference in price. Hence, "basically", with obvious caveats after you compare trim specs.

 

[Great Gatsby]

Unlikely, the R1 still only has 1 "free" color.

The gap between the dual and tri is larger due to range, which alone can sway people. The premium and performance have the same range. They also don't need to make as many R1 vehicles - so not really a like comparison.

To keep the performance trim going in volume for the R2, they will need to more heavily incentivize people looking at the premium.

They seem to copy a lot of Tesla's playbook. The Model S and X never had as many incentives as the 3 and Y do for the reasons above.

Of course, all a guess my end, but would not surprise if Rivian did the same as I personally think this is a good move by Tesla and convinced me to go the Model Y Performance once adding color options to the Y Premium made the gap much smaller. The Performance is great now due to the launch package. When the launch package ends and the premium is readily available, I don't foresee many people paying up to the performance if things stay as they are.

 

[emroch]

Given the subtlety of the differences between the Premium and Performance, it wouldn't surprise me if Rivian just let it ride. Once they met demand and reach equilibrium (or at least have accurate and stable forecasts), I imagine it wouldn't be too disruptive to have a Standard and Premium production line, and just divert a few of the premiums to get different brake calipers and suspension assemblies. The wheel and paint options also seem easy to support on the main production line.

 

[SHRED]

Am I wrong to think with the high number of reservations placed in relation to the production numbers ramping up, my chances of ever getting a R2 Launch edition are slim/none since I just put down my $100 on 6/12/26?

I put my $100 down 11/22/2024 and I have my doubts if I'll ever have a chance for a Launch Edition.

 

[JeffnReno]

I put my $100 down 11/22/2024 and I have my doubts if I'll ever have a chance for a Launch Edition.

Since the $100 is refundable, all we can do is cancel or wait to see how it plays out. I put down my deposit on a Cybertruck that was supposed to get over 500 miles of range for $80k but when the price went up by another $40k and the range dropped to 300 miles, I got my money back. Since I really hope for Rivian to succeed, I don't mind giving them some time to provide a more affordable vehicle that is so compelling as the R2 and even if the LE isn't in the cards for me I'll see what is when that time comes.

 

[DJFrerichs]

I put my $100 down 11/22/2024 and I have my doubts if I'll ever have a chance for a Launch Edition.

09/15/24 reservation here. Waiting on Gen 3 hardware w/ Arizona made LG battery pack and coastal cloud interior, Performance level.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Am I wrong to think with the high number of reservations placed in relation to the production numbers ramping up, my chances of ever getting a R2 Launch edition are slim/none since I just put down my $100 on 6/12/26?

Someone told me that Rivian sold the R1T and R1S Launch Editions for over a year (October 2021 into early 2023). They stopped once they produced 25,000.

It sounds like that’s the goal again with the R2 Launch Edition, although I would hope that they’d reach that goal faster this time, but who knows.

 

[carsly]

Smart move for Rivian is to run the entire list of people who want Launch Editions and pump out as many as they can because until a Trimotor is available, this is the most expensive (read highest margin) trim and maximizing units of this trim level accelerates fixed cost recovery which in turn accelerates the ability to offer lower trim levels in the future.

So if you want a Launch Edition, place an order (even today) and odds are you'll be invited to purchase one before the end of this year and long before Rivian stops producing them.

Also quite likely that the R2 Shop launches late summer/early fall as most high intent reservation holder fulfill orders in the next 6-8 weeks and then 'built to inventory' Launch Edition vehicles show up for immediate purchase online.

Keep in mind, at some point in the months ahead the play for some folks will be to wait on RAP1 and LiDAR in Gen 3 instead of purchasing a "last generation" R2. Even if you don't care about autonomy, those will hold a higher resale value than these early R2's which might have a secondary market pop in the next few months as Rivian is supply-constrained but then drop precipitously in value once inventory vehicles start populating online.

 

[JeffnReno]

Given the subtlety of the differences between the Premium and Performance, it wouldn't surprise me if Rivian just let it ride. Once they met demand and reach equilibrium (or at least have accurate and stable forecasts), I imagine it wouldn't be too disruptive to have a Standard and Premium production line, and just divert a few of the premiums to get different brake calipers and suspension assemblies. The wheel and paint options also seem easy to support on the main production line.

I like your thinking and this would make everyone that put in the deposit on a LE happy to get what they asked for as long as they don't start messing with the price. I don't really need 656 hp and would probably be just fine with the 450 hp on the Premium but I do like the features that the Launch comes with and if I have to pay extra on a premium to get them, driving the price back up to close to the LE anyway, that would be a bad move for them.

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