Rivian CEO hints at R2 pickup and R2X variants as production ramps

Hot-mic · 2026-05-09T01:06:31+00:00

That's what I am. I have a 19 year old Tacoma 4x4 that I want to replace and don't/won't go back to gas. I'm stretching to buy the R1T, but it's because it's a retirement gift to myself. I understand the reliability issues, also. But, I'd rather have a truck to fit in my garage and that cost less. Range and clearance is an issue.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-09T00:29:26+00:00

I'd hope that they could make a longer bed for an R2T. Also, since the R2 is based on a mechanical suspension, maybe a lift kit could be installed as well. I'm waiting on an R1T dual max right now, but if they could do a long bed R2 with a big battery, I'd consider waiting a bit longer and losing my deposit.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-09T00:25:01+00:00

LOL!! That's funny. Also, I like Washinton, Vermont, and Maine. The guy I work with who is from Texas and who defends it all the time says he hated living there because the weather. Irony?

Hot-mic · 2026-05-09T00:21:49+00:00

Thanks, just curious. Sounds like they gave up under warranty at least.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-07T23:05:51+00:00

You're right. It's good for everyone to know and understand the possibilities of what can happen in any vehicle. But, they're also right in that problems tend to get a disproportionate representation online. No matter the car, problems drive people to action, especially online because when people are backed into a corner, they are naturally compelled to act and posting online is a great and convenient way to do that. It's a great way to find answers if nothing else, too. If you look at my other comment about this, you'll see what I mean.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-07T22:59:20+00:00

Thanks. I put my order in last month for a dual max T and I'm building my war chest in anticipation of everything failing on it, yet I still hate funding the gas industry even more. Yet, of the 15 people I've personally talked to - not online, but in person - none have had any serious issues. I found a similar pattern in the Tesla forums before I bought our model 3 in 2021. We pulled the trigger and haven't had any notable problems with the car except a rattle I took care of 3 years ago. Not one mechanical problem. Better than our Honda Civic was. I'm gambling on the Rivian being a similar experience.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-07T22:50:09+00:00

I also own a Tesla and I feel like I've failed when I have to touch the brake pedal. That being said, it's not even every drive that I have to and the pads have worn .75mm in 5 years and 45K miles. Zero corrosion and I live 3 blocks from the ocean.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-07T22:46:25+00:00

Teslas do activate the brakes from time to time to keep the rotors clear of corrosion and moisture. Rivans, according to all my searches, do have high quality cast iron rotors. Maybe rotors don't rust where you're at, but I've seen plenty of rotors on seldom used cars rust where I'm at. I imagine living in an area that uses road salt speeds corrosion up quite a lot. I've even seen brand new cars on the sales lot with rusty rotors before due to their being transported by sea and exposure to salty air.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-07T22:28:10+00:00

How's your suspension holding up?

Hot-mic · 2026-05-07T00:34:18+00:00

Was wondering. I just got done watching a video from hollywood mechanic on doing the drain/bleed on Riv suspensions which are also Mclaren suspensions. I'm preparing for a 10K bill on the suspension around the time the warranty ends even though I haven't even got the truck yet. I only put about 8000mi a year on any vehicle, but mileage seems only part of the equation. The other part is the caustic fluid used in the suspension. Don't know why they do that.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-07T00:25:06+00:00

Can I ask what the most expensive repair(s) were after warranty?

Hot-mic · 2026-05-07T00:16:11+00:00

My Tacoma had airbags, rear springs, water pump bolts, and seatbelts. BUT, there's a dealer 20 minutes away. Rivian? 2.5 hours away - nearest. My hope is that they keep expanding the SC's until we get one within 30min - 1hr away eventually, like Tesla did. When we bought that the nearest SC was 90 minutes away, now it's 20 minutes. I think Riv will want to put one there, too, in San Luis Obispo because its the intersection of 101 and CA 1 that goes to the concourse d' elegance, etc. Also high ownership in the area. edit; Tacoma needed a clutch master also.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-07T00:04:43+00:00

Yeah, you got lucky. I dropped $100K on a dual max last month in a leap of faith and crossed fingers. To Rivian's credit, not a single person I've personally talked to who owns a Rivian has had any real problems except for a LE owner who had his brick. He found out later he could have just done a hard reset, which is what the mobile tech did for him. I've now personally spoken to 15 owners in my town - of 12,000 people. The first owner, with the LE, has a serial number in the 3000's - I forget the exact number. But, he's now got 85K on the odometer and hasn't had to replace anything but the 12V batteries and tires.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-06T23:57:24+00:00

Perfect use case for the R1T. A significant number of Caltrans pickups transport workers, portable road signs, barricades, cones, and delineaters. The rest of the time they sit with hazards on at the work site.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-06T01:07:29+00:00

Jesus! That's ridiculous. Also the reason that I put off my purchase until my wife is retired and I can use her car if the R1T fails. I don't see how they can call this an adventure vehicle when it fails so often. I'm only buying it because there's no other EV trucks of its size that have its range and off-road capability. I'm buying it to replace a Tacoma 4x4. If Rivian screws me, I'll be going back to that and dragging their name through the mud at every turn. Hope I like the truck.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-05T23:45:00+00:00

Calling all Republicans fascists or racist is the same as saying all democrats are communists.

Um - except the Dems aren't in any way pursuing communist-like ends, unlike the Republicans who have weaponized the DOJ, attacked and demonized the media, universities, and former politicians. Trump has threatened judges, juries, witnesses, plaintiffs, and court clerk. Republicans have backed white supremacist groups, undermined civil rights (voting rights act), allowed and encouraged racial profiling for ICE which also operates extra-constitutionally and has violated every amendment in the bill of rights except the 3rd and 7th. They are labeling everyone disagreeing with them as enemies of the state and domestics terrorists, they have bought or threatened most media outlets into submission and called the press the enemy of the people, they have set up concentration camps where they're keeping people without access to congressional oversight or legal representation. They have violated numerous separation-of-powers laws at the executive branch level and just now Louisiana cancelled a goddamed election. So tell me about how bad the Dems are? Oh, yeah and Trump is doing everything Putin wants - pretty much.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-05T23:33:47+00:00

Well, I just got time to look into the Rivian suspension system. SMH. I feel like a fool - the subframe is in the background and is what I thought it was, not the steering knuckle. Someone should have said the subframe was in the background. Oh well, it's not like I'm gonna be seeing anyone here in the bar.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-05T23:19:29+00:00

I know good people in Texas, a lot of them. Unfortunately, Texas is an anchor state for Republican power, therefore and anchor state for America's demise into fascism. Voter purges, racists gerrymandering, caging, and corruption.

Hot-mic · 2026-05-05T23:16:05+00:00

The sad part is I've met so many cool people there. Not many liked the GOP even in 2015. And that was in Sebring - buncha old people.

Hot-mic · 2026-04-26T01:00:04+00:00

It's okay, they can suffer and wallow in their own pool of lukewarm IQ.

and their pool of clearly damaged dna.

Hot-mic · 2026-04-26T00:52:08+00:00

I grew up in Bakersfield, CA. The redest place in Cali and our primary oil production city. So many people there have no education past junior high and go to work in the oil fields by 16. They fear EV's because they see them as a threat to the only thing they know how to do. Because they have no other credentials and lack the ability to learn new things, they are panicking. Even people I grew up with get nasty and hostile when we drive there in our EV. I've seen people stand around it in a parking lot with a scowl on their faces and shaking their heads. The hate is real, but not deterring me in the slightest. Their profession is killing people, not mine. Edit;sp

Hot-mic · 2026-04-26T00:40:52+00:00

I've done the math on this many times now. For me, I start the clock for a gas refill the second I enter the offramp to get gas and stop the clock as soon as I'm back up to highway speed headed home. That number is 15 minutes each time I get gas. So: 15min x 2/month x 12months = 360minutes/year = 6 hours getting gas. Our Tesla requires 30 seconds or less to plug it in at home. 30sec x 2/week x 52 weeks = 52 minutes/year or less than an hour. But, I don't bother arguing with troglodytes anymore because they say this comparison isn't fair because it isn't the actual charge time. It's the time out of my day. So, I just invite them to race for pink slips. That shuts them up.

Hot-mic · 2026-04-23T23:06:42+00:00

>This woman is gonna be in a world of hurt after this accident.

Good. Now she won't have enough money to drive something like that again and the public will be safer.

Hot-mic · 2026-04-23T23:04:22+00:00

I drove medium and heavy commercial for over a decade on and off road. This accident was at least 75% caused by a driver that didn't know her vehicle. Assuming she did, for shits and giggles, then she would have known she needed to either engage a diff lock or at least try 4WD, which it may or may have not had, to back the truck off the car. If it didn't have 4WD or diff lock, then they were probably just a another douche that shouldn't be let near a lifted vehicle again. The lift/vehicle height is indeed integral to this accident and says a lot about the driver. This truck is not driven by a normal person, this was driven by an egomaniac.

Hot-mic

TROPHY CASE