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How Rivian Is Pulling Off Its $45,000 R2 Electric SUV

WIRED talks to CEO RJ Scaringe about how the automaker’s engineering team learned to say no—or make some compromises to create a smaller, more affordable electric car.

After a long day of showing off the R2 and its surprise crossover counterpart, the R3, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe sat down with WIRED to discuss his engineering and design teams’ little compromises that help make the new SUV work. Because electric batteries are heavy, the vehicle needed air springs to ensure it could get the ground clearance required to traverse rough roads but also the stability to make the ride feel comfortable and smooth. The change “was absolutely the right call,” says Scaringe, because it performs well in internal safety testing, saves the automaker “hundreds of dollars,” and comes with the added advantage of giving the R2 more front storage room.

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