Rivian R2 electric SUV will be sold in Europe

The R2 series of slightly more compact Rivian vehicles will spearhead the American startup’s expansion into the European market.

American electric car startup Rivian is poised to launch its third consumer vehicle and enter the European market for the first time. Due to their smaller size and affordable price compared to the company’s current products, it is natural to think that his R2 series of EVs would be more suitable for continental roads than his R1 series.

The R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck will be produced from 2022. Although Rivian was able to sell 47,200 units in the U.S. last year, the only market it has entered so far is Canada, where it is also facing problems.

However, the introduction of the R2 will allow Rivian to expand into several new countries in Europe, including the UK, a spokesperson told Auto Express. The model will spearhead the brand’s entry into the market and take on popular competitors such as the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6.

Read: New Rivian R2 SUV revealed in video, keeps R1 face

The announcement comes on the heels of a teaser for the first R2 model, which uses an entirely new platform. The teaser revealed that the new series will retain the R1 series’ signature “stadium lights”, which feature a horizontal light bar accented by a vertical oval.

Few details have been revealed about the upcoming model, but the automaker has previously hinted that the new platform will be significantly simpler than the R1’s, with the aim of reducing complexity and cost. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said the R2 platform reduces his ECU by 60% and wiring harness length by 25% compared to the larger model. These changes are expected to result in significant savings reaching thousands of dollars per model.

Rivian has confirmed that it will introduce the R2 model (the first release will be an SUV named R2S) on March 7th. The timeline for European sales remains unclear, but the company will likely need to establish new sales. infrastructure, this process can take some time.

We have also reached out to Rivian to inquire about their plans for Europe and will provide an update on this matter as soon as we have more information.