Rivian is coming to the UK, bringing a lineup of electric vehicles that could shake up the market dominated by Tesla and Chinese manufacturers. The American EV maker has confirmed that the UK forms part of its European expansion plans, though the company remains largely unknown to British consumers.
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The company is best known for the R1T pick-up and R1S SUV, which are designed for North American adventures and feature its distinctive vertical headlights. Rivian plans to enter Europe with the mid-size R2, which founder and CEO RJ Scaringe says was developed with European customers in mind. At 4.72 metres long, the R2 is more manageable than the larger R1 models and lands in Tesla Model Y territory. It seats five and offers practical touches like rear seats that fold completely flat and a powered rear window. The R2 Performance, which is already on sale in America, uses two motors and four-wheel drive to produce 656bhp and hit 60mph in 3.6 seconds. The American R2 range is due to start at $44,990, with a 450bhp Premium model sitting between the entry-level car and the full-fat Performance. UK prices have not been announced, so consumers shouldn’t simply convert those dollar figures and start saving just yet.
The R2 might be the sensible car Rivian needs to establish itself in Europe, but the smaller R3 is arguably the reason enthusiasts should be paying attention. Rivian says the R3 will be smaller and cheaper than the R2 while retaining much of the same tech and adventure-focused personality. It will be offered with different battery and motor configurations, with larger-battery versions expected to manage more than 300 miles between charges. The R3X is the performance version of the R3 and features a wider, tougher-looking stance and a tri-motor drivetrain. Rivian has deliberately leaned into the rally-car influence too, developing the R3X through its Rivian Adventure Department. The company has previously said the quickest versions of its R2/R3 platform will be capable of 0-60mph in under three seconds.
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Rivian has confirmed Europe is coming and its UK website is already live and accepting registrations for updates, but there is currently no firm date for British sales. Scaringe says strong demand for the R2 in America is going to consume much of Rivian’s available production capacity for some time. Auto Express estimates a European/UK arrival around 2028 or 2029, but that remains an estimate rather than an official launch date. Rivian is already expanding its manufacturing footprint and has broken ground on a new factory in Georgia, which is expected to play an important role in supporting its longer-term international expansion. In a market rapidly filling with electric SUVs that can sometimes feel increasingly difficult to tell apart, Rivian appears determined to do things a little differently.
