Rivian has unveiled the R2, its next-generation platform. The all-electric crossover is expected to bring Rivian into the next chapter of its growth as an automaker. It is also expected to allow Rivian to scale its operations, making it a mainstream automaker.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe presented the R2 to an enthusiastic audience. Following is a quick overview of the Rivian R2.
Exterior
The Rivian R2 looks very similar to the Rivian R1S. Just like the flagship SUV, it features a large frunk that could fit some luggage and gear. At the rear, the R2 includes some features that provide an open-air experience, such as quarter windows that pop out and a rear glass window that drops down. The drop-down rear glass of the R2 also makes loading items to the all-electric crossover’s trunk much easier.
Introducing R2.
⚡️0-60 under 3 seconds.
⚡️Up to 300+ miles of range.
⚡️Room for five and all your gear.
Reserve yours now: https://t.co/1H408AWcA4
Deliveries expected to begin in the first half of 2026. The features, options and digital displays shown are subject to… pic.twitter.com/xC5ZjyaoCL— Rivian (@Rivian) March 7, 2024
Size-wise, Scaringe noted that the Rivian R2 is about 400 mm (15.7 inches) shorter than the R1S. A slide used in the presentation noted that the R2 has a length of 4715 mm (185.6 inches), a height of 1700 mm (66 inches), and a wheelbase of 2935 mm (115.5 inches). This should make the all-electric crossover easier to maneuver and drive. Its compact size should also help it fit in tight spaces and garages.
Interior
The Rivian executive noted that despite its more compact dimensions compared to the R1S, the R2 is designed to feel spacious inside. “It feels so inviting,” Scaringe said. Like the R1T and R1S that came before it, the R2 is also a vehicle that’s designed to be taken outdoors. It was thus no surprise to see that the R2’s second and first-row seats are capable of folding flat for an optimal car camping experience.
Take a 360-degree tour of R2. pic.twitter.com/euyJkScRYq— Rivian (@Rivian) March 7, 2024
Much to the amusement of the audience, Scaringe noted that the R2 features two gloveboxes and Rivian’s trademark in-door flashlight. Steering wheel controls are dominated by two large scroll wheels, which is not unlike what’s used in the previous generation Tesla Model 3. Scaringe also noted that the R2 features 11 cameras and a suite of five radar sensors, four in the corners and one long range radar in front. The cameras and radar should help the Rivian R2’s planned self-driving features.
Specs
Scaringe did not share much about the Rivian R2’s specs, though he did state that the vehicle would be equipped with a battery pack comprised of 4695 cylindrical cells, which are larger than the 21 mm cells used in the R1 platform. It should also be noted that the Rivian R2 will feature a structural bombardment pack, which means that the top of the battery will be the floor of the vehicle itself.
Every seat in R2 can lay flat for the ultimate car camping experience. pic.twitter.com/hDH3c17y5N— Rivian (@Rivian) March 7, 2024
The Rivian R2 will be offered in three versions: a Single Motor Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) variant, a Dual Motor All Wheel Drive (AWD) variant, and a Tri-Motor variant with two motors on the back and one motor at the front. Scaringe noted that all three R2 variants are expected to achieve over 300 miles of range. The Tri-Motor R2 is expected to achieve a 0-60 mph time of less than 3 seconds.
Price and Release Date
The Rivian R2 is expected to start at $45,000. While Scaringe did not discuss details on the vehicle’s pricing, this amount is likely true for the entry-level RWD version. Still, $45,000 is quite competitive, as the Tesla Model Y, a best-selling all-electric crossover, starts at $43,990 before options today.
Feel the breeze from all directions with the R2’s 360-degree open air experience, including powered rear glass. pic.twitter.com/GMKOEg5HpW— Rivian (@Rivian) March 7, 2024
Scaringe noted that the Rivian R2 is expected to start deliveries in the second half of 2026. The vehicle will initially be built at Rivian’s Normal, IL facility.
Watch Rivian’s R2 unveiling in the video below.
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Tesla adds a new feature to Navigation in preparation for a new vehicle
After CEO Elon Musk announced earlier this week that the Semi’s mass production processes were scheduled for later this year, the company has been making various preparations as it nears manufacturing.
Tesla has added a new feature to its Navigation and Supercharger Map in preparation for a new vehicle to hit the road: the Semi.
After CEO Elon Musk announced earlier this week that the Semi’s mass production processes were scheduled for later this year, the company has been making various preparations as it nears manufacturing.
Elon Musk confirms Tesla Semi will enter high-volume production this year
One of those changes has been the newly-released information regarding trim levels, as well as reports that Tesla has started to reach out to customers regarding pricing information for those trims.
Now, Tesla has made an additional bit of information available to the public in the form of locations of Megachargers, the infrastructure that will be responsible for charging the Semi and other all-electric Class 8 vehicles that hit the road.
Tesla made the announcement on the social media platform X:
We put Semi Megachargers on the map
→ https://t.co/Jb6p7OPXMi pic.twitter.com/stwYwtDVSB
— Tesla Semi (@tesla_semi) February 10, 2026
Although it is a minor development, it is a major indication that Tesla is preparing for the Semi to head toward mass production, something the company has been hinting at for several years.
Nevertheless, this, along with the other information that was released this week, points toward a significant stride in Tesla’s progress in the Semi project.
Now that the company has also worked toward completion of the dedicated manufacturing plant in Sparks, Nevada, there are more signs than ever that the vehicle is finally ready to be built and delivered to customers outside of the pilot program that has been in operation for several years.
For now, the Megachargers are going to be situated on the West Coast, with a heavy emphasis on routes like I-5 and I-10. This strategy prioritizes major highways and logistics hubs where freight traffic is heaviest, ensuring coverage for both cross-country and regional hauls.
California and Texas are slated to have the most initially, with 17 and 19 sites, respectively. As the program continues to grow, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Washington, New York, and Nevada will have Megacharger locations as well.
For now, the Megachargers are available in Lathrop, California, and Sparks, Nevada, both of which have ties to Tesla. The former is the location of the Megafactory, and Sparks is where both the Tesla Gigafactory and Semifactory are located.
Elon Musk
Tesla stock gets latest synopsis from Jim Cramer: ‘It’s actually a robotics company’
“Turns out it’s actually a robotics and Cybercab company, and I want to buy, buy, buy. Yes, Tesla’s the paper that turned into scissors in one session,” Cramer said.
Tesla stock (NASDAQ: TSLA) got its latest synopsis from Wall Street analyst Jim Cramer, who finally realized something that many fans of the company have known all along: it’s not a car company. Instead, it’s a robotics company.
In a recent note that was released after Tesla reported Earnings in late January, Cramer seemed to recognize that the underwhelming financials and overall performance of the automotive division were not representative of the current state of affairs.
Instead, we’re seeing a company transition itself away from its early identity, essentially evolving like a caterpillar into a butterfly.
The narrative of the Earnings Call was simple: We’re not a car company, at least not from a birds-eye view. We’re an AI and Robotics company, and we are transitioning to this quicker than most people realize.
Tesla stock gets another analysis from Jim Cramer, and investors will like it
Tesla’s Q4 Earnings Call featured plenty of analysis from CEO Elon Musk and others, and some of the more minor details of the call were even indicative of a company that is moving toward AI instead of its cars. For example, the Model S and Model X will be no more after Q2, as Musk said that they serve relatively no purpose for the future.
Instead, Tesla is shifting its focus to the vehicles catered for autonomy and its Robotaxi and self-driving efforts.
Cramer recognizes this:
“…we got results from Tesla, which actually beat numbers, but nobody cares about the numbers here, as electric vehicles are the past. And according to CEO Elon Musk, the future of this company comes down to Cybercabs and humanoid robots. Stock fell more than 3% the next day. That may be because their capital expenditures budget was higher than expected, or maybe people wanted more details from the new businesses. At this point, I think Musk acolytes might be more excited about SpaceX, which is planning to come public later this year.”
He continued, highlighting the company’s true transition away from vehicles to its Cybercab, Optimus, and AI ambitions:
“I know it’s hard to believe how quickly this market can change its attitude. Last night, I heard a disastrous car company speak. Turns out it’s actually a robotics and Cybercab company, and I want to buy, buy, buy. Yes, Tesla’s the paper that turned into scissors in one session. I didn’t like it as a car company. Boy, I love it as a Cybercab and humanoid robot juggernaut. Call me a buyer and give me five robots while I’m at it.”
Cramer’s narrative seems to fit that of the most bullish Tesla investors. Anyone who is labeled a “permabull” has been echoing a similar sentiment over the past several years: Tesla is not a car company any longer.
Instead, the true focus is on the future and the potential that AI and Robotics bring to the company. It is truly difficult to put Tesla shares in the same group as companies like Ford, General Motors, and others.
Tesla shares are down less than half a percent at the time of publishing, trading at $423.69.
Elon Musk
SpaceX secures win as US labor board drops oversight case
The NLRB confirmed that it no longer has jurisdiction over SpaceX.
SpaceX scored a legal victory after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decided to dismiss a case which accused the company of terminating engineers who were involved in an open letter against founder Elon Musk.
The NLRB confirmed that it no longer has jurisdiction over SpaceX. The update was initially shared by Bloomberg News, which cited a letter about the matter it reportedly reviewed.
In a letter to the former employees’ lawyers, the labor board stated that the affected employees were under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board (NMB), not the NLRB. As a result, the labor board stated that it was dismissing the case.
As per Danielle Pierce, a regional director of the agency, “the National Labor Relations Board lacks jurisdiction over the Employer and, therefore, I am dismissing your charge.”
The NMB typically oversees airlines and railroads. The NLRB, on the other hand, covers most private-sector employers, as well as manufacturers such as Boeing.
The former SpaceX engineers have argued that the private space company did not belong under the NMB’s jurisdiction because SpaceX only offers services to “hand-picked customers.”
In an opinion, however, the NMB stated that SpaceX was under its jurisdiction because “space transport includes air travel” to get to outer space. The mediation board also noted that anyone can contact SpaceX to secure its services.
SpaceX had previously challenged the NLRB’s authority in court, arguing that the agency’s structure was unconstitutional. Jennifer Abruzzo, the NLRB general counsel under former United States President Joe Biden, rejected SpaceX’s claims. Following Abruzzo’s termination under the Trump administration, however, SpaceX asked the labor board to reconsider its arguments.
SpaceX is not the only company that has challenged the constitutionality of the NLRB. Since SpaceX filed its legal challenge against the agency in 2024, other high-profile companies have followed suit. These include Amazon, which has filed similar cases that are now pending.