Rivian’s next six months are about two things: cheaper versions of the R2 and a big step in hands-free driving. Between now and spring 2027, Rivian plans to start R2 Premium sales, put its Point to Point driver-assist feature in invited owners’ hands and hold an Autonomy and AI Day on Dec. 9. It will also report Q4 numbers. The $44,990 R2 Standard and the LiDAR-equipped R2 are 2027 cars. Here’s our Rivian 2027 preview: what the company has actually committed to, what’s only reported, and what last year’s calendar says to expect.
Most of this comes from Rivian’s Q3 2026 results and earnings call on Oct. 29, plus the R2 page on rivian.com as of Oct. 31. Prices are US MSRP before taxes and fees.
Rivian’s next 6 months at a glance
| When | What | How solid is it? |
|---|---|---|
| Late 2026 | R2 Premium ($53,990) orders and first deliveries | Rivian’s site says “Late 2026” |
| Late 2026 | Point to Point limited rollout for invited owners | Rivian says “later this year” |
| By end of 2026 | Next Uber milestone, worth a $250 million investment | Rivian says it’s on track |
| Dec. 9, 2026 | Rivian Autonomy and AI Day | Confirmed |
| Early January 2027 | Q4 2026 production and delivery numbers | Not announced. Last year’s came Jan. 2 |
| Mid-February 2027 | Q4 2026 results and call | Not announced. Last year’s was Feb. 12 |
| 2027 | R2 Standard from $44,990; Point to Point for all Autonomy+ subscribers; LiDAR R2 | Confirmed for 2027, no month given |
What’s confirmed
The R2 lineup fills in, starting with the Premium
Right now the only R2 Rivian lists as available is the $57,990 R2 Performance, which Rivian’s site says still includes the Launch Package “for a limited time.” That trim has 656 hp, a 3.6-second 0-60 time and 330 miles of EPA-estimated range. Rivian’s site lists the next two trims like this:
| R2 trim | Price | Timing | Power / 0-60 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | $57,990 | Available now | 656 hp / 3.6 s | 330 mi (EPA est.) |
| Premium (dual-motor AWD) | $53,990 | Late 2026 | 450 hp / 4.6 s | 330 mi (EPA est.) |
| Standard (single-motor RWD) | $44,990 | 2027 | 350 hp / 5.9 s | 275 mi (est.) |
The Standard also offers a Long Range RWD battery and a dual-motor AWD setup as options. When Rivian announced R2 pricing in March, the Standard RWD Long Range was listed at $48,490 for the first half of 2027, with a cheaper version “around $45,000” in late 2027. RivianTrackr reported in June that the base car’s price was set at $44,990 and its timing moved up to summer 2027. Rivian’s site now just says “2027.”
On the Q3 call, CEO RJ Scaringe said Rivian is “really excited for the launch of additional variants in the coming months.” He said the lineup is meant to cover buyers from “that $45,000 price point all the way up to the $57,000 price point.” He also said that buyers waiting for a different configuration are “by far” the most common reason reservations haven’t turned into orders. The Premium’s timing has been a sore spot before. In July, EV (eletric-vehicles.com) reported that Scaringe had pointed to early 2027 on the Q2 call. Rivian then said “available” in late 2026 means orders and initial deliveries begin then.
Point to Point, then a Dec. 9 event
Point to Point lets you enter an address and have the car drive the whole route, including city streets, stoplights and highway interchanges, with the driver supervising. Rivian says a limited rollout through its invitation-only Autonomy Early Access Program begins later this year, with “a general release to all Autonomy+ subscribers expected in 2027.” Autonomy+ costs $2,500 one time or $49.99 a month, according to Rivian’s March announcement. Scaringe said Rivian’s Large Driving Model will reach every R2, including Launch editions, and 2025-and-newer R1s, so Point to Point isn’t limited to new cars.
Rivian will “share more” at its Autonomy and AI Day on Dec. 9. In October it also bought Third Dimension AI to help with simulation work.
LiDAR R2 is a 2027 car
Scaringe said the next hardware generation pairs two RAP1 processors, for 1,600 TOPS total, with cameras, radar and a LiDAR sensor. That vehicle is “going through… an employee program late this year,” and “into 2027, that vehicle will be available.” We broke down what that means for current buyers in our R2 LiDAR story.
The business backdrop
- Rivian delivered 19,248 vehicles in Q3, up 46% from a year earlier. The R2 outsold both the R1 and the delivery van.
- Rivian raised its 2026 delivery guidance to 67,000 to 70,000, from 65,000 to 70,000.
- Rivian has dropped the R1’s standard trim and moved the R1 upmarket. It expects R1 average selling prices to “go up a bit.”
- Construction of the Georgia plant is “progressing well.” Rivian expects a “meaningful” jump in capital spending in 2027 as that work ramps up.
What’s rumored or reported
An R2 Standard test car may be out in public
On Oct. 30 (US time), RivianTrackr posted a photo a friend sent of what it says is “a Rivian R2 Standard trim being tested. The rear wiper gives it away.” That detail makes sense. The Premium and Performance hide their wiper in a heated trough so the rear glass can drop, as The Drive explained. The Standard has fixed glass with a conventional wiper below it, according to Rivian Wave. It’s one secondhand photo with no location, so treat it as unverified. Still, it fits the “coming months” language.
The Launch Package won’t last forever
Rivian’s site still calls the Performance’s Launch Package (lifetime Autonomy+, a special key fob and the Launch Green paint option) a limited-time offer. Earlier this month some buyers saw signs it could end. Rivian hasn’t announced an end date. If lifetime Autonomy+ matters to you, keep that clock in mind.
An R2 pickup?
Rivian keeps refiling for the “R2T” name, which we covered in our trademark story. Rivian hasn’t announced an R2 pickup. Nothing suggests one in the next six months.
What last year’s calendar says
- Q4 numbers arrive right after New Year’s. Rivian released Q4 2025 production and deliveries on Jan. 2, 2026, and set its Q4 results for Feb. 12, 2026, according to its SEC filing.
- December is Rivian’s tech-reveal month. At its first Autonomy and AI Day on Dec. 11, 2025, Rivian announced custom chips, LiDAR plans and Autonomy+ pricing, CNBC reported. Expect this year’s Dec. 9 event to set Point to Point and LiDAR timing rather than show a new vehicle, though that’s our read, not Rivian’s.
Should you buy a Rivian now or wait?
| If you… | Our take |
|---|---|
| Want an R2 and lifetime Autonomy+ matters | The $57,990 Performance with the Launch Package is the only way to get it, and Rivian calls it limited-time. |
| Want AWD under $55,000 | Wait for the $53,990 Premium, due late 2026. |
| Have a hard budget near $45,000 | Wait for the R2 Standard, but plan on 2027 and about 275 miles of range in base form. Our cheaper Tesla alternatives list covers rivals you can buy now. |
| Want LiDAR hardware | Wait for 2027. Current R2s won’t get it. |
| Already own a 2025+ R1 or an R2 | Nothing to do. Point to Point comes over the air to Autonomy+ subscribers. |
FAQ
When is the Rivian R2 Standard release date?
Rivian’s site says 2027 without a month. RivianTrackr reported in June that the $44,990 base car moved up to summer 2027.
How much is the Rivian R2 Premium, and when can I get one?
It’s $53,990 with 450 hp and 330 miles of EPA-estimated range. Rivian says orders and first deliveries begin in late 2026.
What is Rivian Point to Point?
It’s a supervised feature that drives you from address to address. A limited invite-only rollout starts later this year, and it goes to all Autonomy+ subscribers in 2027.
When is Rivian’s Autonomy and AI Day 2026?
Dec. 9, 2026.
Is Rivian making an R2 pickup?
Not officially. Rivian has refiled the “R2T” trademark, but hasn’t announced a truck.
