Heckwood
The Vergecast

Rivian’s last chance to take on Tesla

Jul 1, 2026 · 34m 58s
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About this episode

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 anxiety⁠ ⁠The Rivian R2 is too much fun to let drive itself⁠ ⁠Rivian surprises with R3 and R3X electric SUVs⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices