RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian, recently shared some fresh details about the electric brand’s future products on tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee’s WVFRM podcast. In addition to the R1T and R1S, the automaker will introduce new electric vehicles that have smaller form factors and unique designs. Here are the key takeaways from the interview.
We’ve known for some time about the R2 platform that Rivian is studiously working on. The automaker plans a smaller pickup and a smaller SUV with its trademark styling coming online sometime around 2026. In this interview, Scaringe confirms that the R2 won’t come with an available quad-motor setup like the R1S and R1T.
Specifically speaking about the relation between the flagship R1 products and the smaller future models he says: “Following those, we have a smaller set of products creatively we call R2, R3 but they move into different form factors, obviously different sizes… The goal of those is to take the essence of what we’ve done here… and do it in different packages and smaller form factors.”
More: Everything We Do And Don’t Know About The 2026 Rivian R2
We also learn a little more about the phase of development that the team is in. Scaringe says that Rivian is “deep into the programs process” on its next-gen R2 platform. He also says that the team is in the middle of “huge debates” surrounding where to splurge and where to save regarding the R2. The devil is in the details, so to speak, and even tiny features are weighed literally and figuratively to determine if they’re worth inclusion.
How capable does the vehicle need to be off-road in relation to on-road driving dynamics or interior content? That’s just one example of what the team is working on right now. Those are choices that the team didn’t have to debate for the flagship R1 lineup.
The R3 is something we’ve heard even less about and as far as we can tell, it could very well be the brand’s first sedan or maybe a hatchback. Scaringe says that a really affordable EV is “really important” but at the same time, he wants whatever Rivian makes to be exciting and fun. Regardless, we can expect it to be something that continues to carry the same Rivian brand DNA.
Watch the entire podcast in the video below.