Rivian Says R3 Will Cost Materially Less Than R2, With R4 Aiming Lower
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says the R3 will be materially cheaper than the R2 and a future R4 will move lower again. No R3 price or launch date is confirmed.
Rivian has offered a clearer indication of where its next, smaller electric crossover will sit on price. In a New York Times interview discussed by Electrek on September 22, CEO RJ Scaringe said the R3 will move “materially lower” than the R2. He also described a future R4 as another step down.
That is a direction, not a price announcement. Rivian has not published an R3 sticker price, a firm delivery date, or a Canadian launch plan. The R4 is even less defined. For shoppers watching the brand move beyond its premium R1 models, the important news is the intended order of the lineup: R2 first, then a more affordable R3, with R4 planned below that.
The R2 Price Is the Reference Point
The distinction matters because “cheaper than R2” can mean different things while Rivian rolls out higher-priced trims before its entry model. Rivian announced a roughly US$45,000 starting price for the eventual base R2, while the Performance Launch Edition began at US$57,990. The lower-priced R2 variants arrive later than the launch vehicle.
Scaringe did not say whether his latest comparison uses the entry R2 or the versions currently available. It would be premature to turn “materially lower” into a specific R3 price. The comment does, however, reinforce Rivian’s longstanding plan to move into a broader, lower-priced segment after establishing the R2.
For Canadian readers, neither U.S. price is a Canadian MSRP. Exchange rates, taxes, freight, equipment and launch timing could all change the comparison here. Rivian has not given Canadian R3 pricing.
What Rivian Has Not Confirmed
Rivian has shown the R3 as a compact electric crossover, but this interview did not add production specifications. There is no final battery capacity, certified driving range, charging time or trim-by-trim equipment list to compare against the R2. Nor has the company confirmed when buyers can order an R3 or R4.
The timing is particularly important for anyone considering an EV purchase now. The R2 is a real, priced product; the R3 remains a future model. Rivian’s intended price ladder may ultimately bring its design and software to more buyers, but it is not yet a reason to assume a near-term sub-R2 deal.
The next useful milestones are a formal R3 price and production schedule, followed by market-specific availability. Until then, the R3 is best understood as Rivian’s planned affordable follow-up, not a vehicle with a confirmed bargain price.
Rivian’s R3 has a shorter, hatch-like profile than the R2 SUV. Image: Rivian.
The R3’s rear glass and tailgate reinforce its crossover-hatch shape. Image: Rivian.