Rivian Set to Deliver First R2 SUVs as Orders Open June 9

Rivian has announced that customer orders for its highly anticipated Rivian R2 will officially begin on June 9, with the first deliveries scheduled to take place the same day.

The launch marks a major milestone for the electric vehicle company nearly two years after the R2 was first unveiled, with thousands of reservation holders now preparing to configure and finalise their orders.

According to Rivian, customers who placed deposits for the electric SUV will begin receiving invitation emails to customise their vehicles and lock in their preferred specifications.

Once configured, the automaker said delivery timelines are expected to range between two and six weeks.

Rivian Prioritises Reservation Holders

The company explained that invitations to order the R2 will be sent out in batches based primarily on reservation timestamps and delivery locations.

Existing owners of Rivian’s R1 vehicles will also receive accelerated delivery timing, although the company said it is balancing allocations to ensure non-Rivian owners are treated fairly.

Rivian added that customers with expiring vehicle leases may receive additional priority where possible.

The automaker also disclosed that a randomly selected group of reservation holders will be included in the early order batches to help refine delivery timing estimates and improve the ordering process.

Customers invited to order but not ready to proceed immediately will still retain their reservation priority for future configurations.

This is expected to benefit buyers waiting for upcoming features such as lidar-equipped versions or additional paint options, including Rivian’s Borealis purple finish.

Launch Edition Arrives First

Early buyers will initially only have access to the R2 Launch Edition model.

Rivian said the R2 Premium trim is expected to arrive later in 2026, while the Standard version is scheduled for release in 2027.

Reservation holders who delay orders while waiting for later trims will maintain their position in line once those variants become available.

The R2 is widely seen as Rivian’s most important product launch to date, with the company targeting the mainstream electric SUV market currently dominated by rivals such as Tesla.

Industry observers have described the launch as Rivian’s “Model Y moment,” as the automaker prepares for mass-market expansion.

Rivian is reportedly targeting as many as 25,000 R2 deliveries in 2026.

In addition to customer deliveries, the company confirmed that demo drives for the R2 will begin at nearby Rivian Spaces from June 9.

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A Lagos-based journalist with a passion for disseminating factual information and a deep appreciation for good music, good food, movies, and beautiful cars. He hopes to travel the world someday, documenting its beauty and diverse cultures through his storytelling.