Rivian R3 and R3X hatchbacks aim for masses for less than $45,000

The Rivian R2 electric SUV will not be the least costly mannequin within the startup automaker’s lineup.

On Thursday, CEO RJ Scaringe shocked everybody on the R2 debut by unveiling the R3 hatchback, in addition to a efficiency variant referred to as the R3X. After they finally arrive after the R2, which will not hit the market till the primary half of 2026, the R3 will price lower than its sibling, which begins at $45,000.

Rivian R3

The R3 lineup will share the R2’s single, twin, and tri-motor powertrains together with the electrical SUV’s construction and battery pack. That battery pack can be structural and use 4695-style cells.

Rivian stated the R3 will cost from 10-80% in half-hour and use Tesla’s NACS charge port. The R3 will be capable to interface with CCS quick chargers through an adapter.

Rivian R3

Jeff Hammoud, Rivian’s head designer, confirmed to Inexperienced Automobile Studies that the R3 household is 170.3 inches lengthy and rides on a 110.2-inch wheelbase—so it’s about 15 inches shorter than the R2 and with a wheelbase about 5 inches shorter. That quantities to a real compact automotive by U.S. car-sizing norms.

The R3 appears like a squatter hot-hatch able to hit the gravel trails. Signature Rivian lighting sits up entrance with a horizontal lightbar and vertical oval headlights, however in again issues take a flip. The sloping roofline results in a VW Golf-like hatchback form. The rear glass flips up independently from the hatch as a characteristic Rivian dubs Flipper Glass. It permits longer objects like surfboards to be hauled within the hatchback.

Rivian R3X

Just like the R2, the inside of the R3 contains a digital gauge cluster, a big touchscreen, and first- and second-row seats that fold utterly flat. There are additionally two gloveboxes and a hidden storage drawer contained in the cab. A entrance trunk options safe storage.

The R2 will enter manufacturing in early 2026 in Rivian’s Regular, Illinois, plant the place the R1T and R1S are constructed. Ultimately, manufacturing of the R2 will transfer to the automaker’s new plant set to be constructed in Stanton Springs, Georgia. It is unclear when the R3 will enter manufacturing and the place it will likely be constructed—or to what diploma Europe is perhaps a part of the plan—although finally it will likely be constructed alongside its R2 sibling.