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The Vergecast · July 1, 2026 · 34m

Rivian’s last chance to take on Tesla

Andrew Hawkins

Andrew Hawkins joins the show to break down Rivian’s R2, the more affordable EV that the company hopes will finally break it into the mainstream. He takes us inside the factory where it’s being built and explains why the R2—and the surprise R3 and R3X—could be Rivian’s make-or-break moment against Tesla.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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The R2 is Rivian’s mainstream bet
Rivian is positioning the R2 as its first truly affordable vehicle, hoping to move beyond niche appeal and compete directly with Tesla's mass-market offerings.
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The factory visit reveals production readiness
Hawkins toured the production line and saw firsthand how Rivian is retooling its Normal, Illinois plant to build the R2 at scale.
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The R3 and R3X surprise
Rivian unexpectedly showed two smaller, more rugged models—the R3 and R3X—that expand the lineup beyond the R2.
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Range anxiety as a persistent psychological barrier
Even as battery tech improves, consumer fear of running out of charge remains one of the biggest obstacles to widespread EV adoption.
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Editorial

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The R2 is too much fun to let drive itself
Hawkins argues that the driving dynamics of the R2 are so engaging that they make a case for human-driven cars over self-driving technology.
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