Skip to content 
Rivian’s recent R2 reveal in Laguna Beach offered more than just a glimpse into the electric vehicle maker’s future. It was a manifesto on the evolution of accessible, adventure-ready EVs. Alongside the surprising debuts of the R3 and R3X, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe sat down with Munro to offer insights into the engineering trade-offs, design intentions, and strategic recalibrations that shaped the new platform. For automotive engineers, EV enthusiasts, and investors alike, the R2 lineup represents a critical pivot point — one that balances bold product identity with lean, cost-conscious innovation.
A Shift Toward Accessible Adventure
From the outset, Scaringe emphasized Rivian’s mission to bring its unique EV experience to a broader market. While the R1T and R1S served as premium flagships, the R2 aims to make Rivian’s adventure ethos more attainable. With an estimated $45,000 price point, this new model reimagines the Rivian brand in a smaller, more efficient form factor.
At the heart of the R2 is an “inviting” philosophy — a word Scaringe says guides everything from haptic feedback on steering wheel controls to showroom design. Unlike legacy truck brands that lean into aggression, Rivian’s goal is a bold yet approachable feel. “It’s powerful,” Scaringe said, “but not precious — and definitely not intimidating.”
R3 and R3X: The Surprise Siblings
While expectations centered on a potential R2T variant, Rivian instead shocked the audience by revealing two new compact models — the R3 and R3X. These vehicles share the R2’s architecture but stretch its application into more urban-friendly or performance-flavored offerings. This move signals Rivian’s intent to serve a wider array of buyer personas — not just the off-road adventurer, but also tech-savvy professionals and practical urban dwellers.
Platform Overhaul: What’s Really “All-New”?
While Rivian markets R2, R3, and R3X as “all-new,” Scaringe clarified that “all-new” doesn’t mean discarding proven systems. Instead, the team strategically re-engineered core systems — notably the battery, structure, and drive units — while preserving cost-effective and reliable elements from the R1.
Battery and Architecture
One standout innovation is the battery pack. Rivian adopted 4695 cells — larger than the 4680s popularized by Tesla — allowing for improved energy density and thermal management. The structural battery pack integrates directly with the floor pan, removing redundant support structures and slashing weight and cost.
Drive Units
Rivian’s in-house motor design carries over with refinements. The same rotor-stator tech used in the R1 has been reconfigured for R2’s footprint, allowing further cost reductions without sacrificing performance. Lessons learned from R1’s production headaches were directly funneled into R2’s more efficient, simplified assembly process.
Zonal Architecture and ECU Consolidation
One of the most compelling technical shifts is Rivian’s move toward zonal computing. Rather than assigning ECUs by function (as in traditional domain-based setups), Rivian employs a zonal system: front-left, front-right, rear-left, and rear-right modules handle all control functions in their quadrant.
This zonal layout drastically reduces wiring complexity, module count, and associated costs. According to Scaringe, this architectural move alone eliminates thousands of dollars in materials while increasing robustness and maintainability.
Design That’s Elegant, Not Excessive
Much of R2’s charm comes from thoughtful design simplification. For example, the rear doors on the R2 feature a full-drop glass window with no dip bar or fixed pane — unlike the R1S. Achieving this clean look involved reshaping the wheelbase and window cutouts. The result? A striking aesthetic with fewer parts, lower cost, and enhanced customer satisfaction.
Interior elements like dual glove boxes, softer-defined scroll wheel haptics, and a hidden flashlight in the door panel reflect Rivian’s ethos of “surprise and delight.” These seemingly minor features aggregate into a more emotionally satisfying user experience — key to building brand loyalty in an increasingly crowded EV market.
Charging, Voltage, and Bidirectional Capability
While many competitors move toward 800-volt architecture, Rivian opted to maintain a simpler high-voltage system for the R2 launch. The reasoning: balance cost, performance, and platform maturity. However, the company hasn’t ruled out 800V or 48V systems in future vehicles, particularly if it adopts steer-by-wire or brake-by-wire tech.
Importantly, R2 will offer bidirectional charging — at least through AC — with the potential for DC bidirectionality in the future. This includes support for vehicle-to-home (V2H) energy backup, and possibly vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) applications down the line.
Factory Strategy: Normal First, Georgia Later
Another strategic pivot involved production plans. Originally scheduled to launch from Rivian’s Georgia plant, the R2 will now debut from its existing Normal, Illinois facility — saving an estimated $2.25 billion. Scaringe was candid about the change, clarifying that Georgia is merely paused, not canceled.
“Georgia remains our scale-up site,” Scaringe noted. “But to get to market faster and more profitably, we’re launching from Normal.” This staged approach ensures Rivian can start shipping R2s earlier while delaying heavier capital investment until market momentum builds.
Persona vs. Platform: Who Is Rivian Really For?
Many Rivian owners never saw themselves as the brand’s target buyer — yet find themselves unexpectedly devoted to their R1Ts. Scaringe acknowledged this tension and revealed that Rivian intentionally avoids pinning its brand to a single persona.
By designing inviting products — easy to use, not overwhelming, yet deeply capable — Rivian hopes to attract a spectrum of buyers: outdoorsy families, engineers, urban professionals, and everyone in between. This broad appeal is both a product design goal and a brand strategy — making Rivian less of a niche player and more of a future mainstream contender.
Final Thoughts: What Makes R2 a Rivian
Asked what he’s most proud of, Scaringe didn’t point to specs or features. Instead, he said the R2 captures “the essence of Rivian” in a smaller, more accessible form — without losing the soul that made the R1 series so beloved.
For EV engineers and teardown analysts, R2’s modular improvements, cost-cutting strategies, and simplified architecture offer rich insights. For investors, it shows a nimble company capable of learning from past challenges while staying focused on long-term goals. And for EV enthusiasts, it offers something even more rare: a compact electric SUV that feels aspirational without being elitist.
Get More With Munro
For more teardown analysis, platform insights, and exclusive interviews like this one, check out Munro & Associates or subscribe to Munro Live. Explore how engineering decisions shape the future of EVs — one bolt, pack, and click at a time.