The potential launch date of Rivian's R2 vehicle seems to have been revealed in the minutes of a town council meeting. Members of the Laguna Beach City Council gathered to deliberate on granting permission for Rivian to showcase its cars in a local park. 

(Photo : Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 10: The Rivian electric truck logo is seen on a parked vehicle near the Nasdaq MarketSite building in Times Square on November 10, 2021 in New York City.

Rivian's R2 Possible Launch

During the meeting held last night in Laguna Beach, California, council members were poised to authorize Rivian's request to park six vehicles on the park's grass for an event labeled as the "R2 launch" scheduled for March 7th.

The Verge reported that it appears that Rivian is gearing up to formally introduce its upcoming electric SUV, the R2, which is anticipated to be more compact and budget-friendly compared to its current range of electric vehicles.

A community publication, a brief entry on the city council's consent calendar hinted at the approval of the event, bundled together with various other agenda items. The six vehicles Rivian intends to showcase are designated "for informational purposes only."

While the document doesn't explicitly state the purpose of the worldwide launch event, a clear indication can be found in a diagram at the bottom of the proposed car layout plan, labeled "RIVIAN R2 LAUNCH v11.pln."

As of now, Rivian has not made any formal declarations regarding this date. However, there have been recent developments, such as the acquisition of a facility named South Coast Theater close to the designated vehicle parking area. 

Renamed Rivian South Coast Theater, this establishment now functions as the company's inaugural flagship retail location. Despite these occurrences, a spokesperson for Rivian has chosen not to provide any comments on the matter.

What We Know So Far

As per Car Buzz, Rivian has experienced a series of intriguing developments in recent weeks, notably its collaboration with major traditional automakers to embrace Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) for upcoming vehicles. 

Additionally, there was a noteworthy recruitment move involving the hiring of Tesla's head of raw materials. Amidst these headlines, an under-the-radar surprise has emerged with Rivian disclosing pricing details last week for its upcoming vehicle based on the R2 platform.

According to Rivian CFO Claire McDonough, the upcoming smaller SUV, constructed on the more budget-friendly R2 platform, will be priced between $40,000 and $60,000. 

McDonough disclosed this information during the Deutsche Bank conference, highlighting that this pricing strategy allows for a broader market appeal compared to the current R1 platform vehicles, which commence at approximately $73,000.

While emphasizing that the R2 SUV will still capture the adventurous aesthetic seen in the R1S, McDonough acknowledged the need for efforts to enhance affordability. 

Also Read: Rivian to Harness Wind Power for Its Illinois Factory

In a commitment to environmental sustainability, Rivian has expressed its dedication to reducing the carbon footprint of its next-generation vehicles. 

This includes a strategic emphasis on incorporating a higher proportion of recycled materials and integrating more renewable energy sources into its manufacturing processes.

Related Article: Rivian R2, R3 EVs Coming; Ex Apple, Porsche Executive to Help Deliver New Platforms