A RISING car brand that has been compared to Tesla is finally preparing to sell its vehicles in the UK – with a stylish model to be sold in right-hand drive.
US carmaker Rivian is to begin selling the R2 SUV, which many see as a direct rival to the wildly popular Tesla Model Y.
Rivian is coming to Europe and the UK with the stylish, 300-mile range R2 EV[/caption]
The R2 is seen as a rival to the top selling Tesla Model Y – with a focus on making it ‘attainable’ with an affordable price[/caption]
Rivian’s R2 will arrive in North America in 2026 and then in Europe, although a specific UK launch date has not yet been confirmed[/caption]
The US brand will also release a R3 model in the future, a smaller vehicle styled like a raised hatchback[/caption]
According to Autocar, the R2 – which offers over 300 miles of range – is being held up as Rivian’s chance to expand into Europe, particularly the UK, thanks to the model being smaller and more affordable.
Rivian, a US-based electric vehicle manufacturer, will initially launch the R2 in North America in early 2026.
It will then arrive in Europe sometime after, although a specific UK launch date has not yet been confirmed.
The R2 will be available in single-motor rear-wheel drive, with an optional dual-motor four-wheel drive iteration as well.
Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe revealed that the R2 would have a price tag of $45,000, which is roughly £33,000, when it’s released in North America next year.
Rivian has also revealed plans for the R3, a smaller vehicle styled like a raised hatchback.
A high-performance variant called the R3X is also being lined up, although neither model has a launch date so far.
Rivian’s vehicles, including the R2, will utilise a second-gen technology platform shared with the R1 series – a large, all-electric pick-up which is available solely in North America.
The brand has partnered with the Volkswagen Group – which will use a version of this system in its ID.1 and related models starting in 2026.
Long-term, they aim to produce millions of vehicles annually and achieve at least a 10% market share in North America and Europe.
European production is seen as a goal further down the line, with Rivian currently boasting manufacturing facilities in Illinois and Georgia, US.
Expansion into China is not part of its current strategy, unlike many of its competitors.
Scaringe said that his vision for Rivian’s cars in Europe is one that “remains highly aspirational but highly attainable”.
He added: “Those things don’t often go together. Often when you see the price go down, you see the desirability drop off.
“But this is what makes our R2 and R3 so interesting: they’re inviting and attainable in their pricing but they still feel very special.
“They feel like every decision was thought about by someone who loves their job and loves what they’re doing in a way that often you don’t get in a sub-$40,000 car, where a lot of times it feels like somebody was just doing their job, ticking boxes and following a book of requirements versus debating every single piece of content, material selection and panel.
“We are loving every one of those decisions to make it feel like it’s really curated.”
On their ambitious plans, he said: “Our goal is to build many millions of units a year.
“We’ve often said we’d like to eventually grow in the markets we’re in to at least 10% market share.”
Rivian, considered an industry force in the US, has already been dubbed ‘the next Tesla’ by those in the know.
