Cover art for The Vergecast

Rivian’s last chance to take on Tesla

The Vergecast

Published
July 1, 2026
Duration
34:58
Summary source
description
Last updated
Jul 5, 2026

Discusses For years, Rivian has looked like one of the most compelling electric vehicle companies in America —…

Summary

For years, Rivian has looked like one of the most compelling electric vehicle companies in America — and maybe the car maker most equipped to take on Tesla. All that potential comes down to this: the R2, the long-awaited and more affordable car that Rivian hopes can make it truly mainstream. After a journey to the R2's factory earlier this year, The Verge…

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Show notes

For years, Rivian has looked like one of the most compelling electric vehicle companies in America — and maybe the car maker most equipped to take on Tesla. All that potential comes down to this: the R2, the long-awaited and more affordable car that Rivian hopes can make it truly mainstream. After a journey to the R2's factory earlier this year, The Verge's Andrew Hawkins explains what the R2 is, why it matters, and what happens to Rivian if it's a hit — or a flop. Further reading: ⁠Range anxiet