Rivian Starts R2 SUV Production at Illinois Plant Damaged by EF-1 Tornado

Rivian rolled the first customer-ready R2 SUVs off the production line at its factory in Normal, Illinois, just days after the facility was struck by an EF-1 tornado that tore off part of the roof. The tornado hit the south end of the plant, ripping off the roof and knocking down sections of the building, according to Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe.

He told Bloomberg Television on Wednesday morning that the last 72 hours at the factory have been around-the-clock efforts following the damage.

Scaringe stated that Rivian does not anticipate delays to the R2 rollout as a result of the tornado damage. “The tornado went through the south end of the plant, and ripped the roof off the building, and knocked down some of the plant as well, and so the last 72 hours have been around the clock,” he stated in the interview.

Scaringe added that Rivian has adjusted how and where it brings some materials into the factory to build the R2.

He emphasized that the company is not making any changes to its production roadmap plan. @techcrunch reported that Rivian will start shipping R2 SUVs before the first half of 2026 comes to an end. The company expects to deliver between 20,000 and 25,000 R2 SUVs by the end of 2026.

The R2 represents the first production vehicle Rivian has made with potential to reach mass-market customers, as it costs far less than the company’s current R1 EVs. Rivian announced pricing for the R2 SUV in March 2026. The launch edition R2 starts at $57,990, with a slightly cheaper $53,990 variant arriving by the end of 2026.

Rivian won’t sell an R2 for under $50,000 until the first half of 2027. A true base model R2 starting at $45,000 won’t hit the market until late 2027. Rivian said the base model R2 price will start around $45,000.

@techcrunch reported that getting the R2 into production marks a major milestone for Rivian, following years of development aimed at broader market accessibility.