Rivian Built The R2 For Half What An R1 Costs To Make, And It’s Not The Battery

[rmc523]

Rivian Built The R2 For Half What An R1 Costs To Make, And It’s Not The Battery | Carscoops

 

At the core of the R2’s cost-cutting approach is ruthless simplification. Rivian says its new zonal electrical architecture slashes wiring complexity, trimming 2.3 miles of harness length and reducing connectors by 60%. High-voltage cabling is down 70% thanks to consolidating multiple power modules into a single unit.

 

The same philosophy carries over to the powertrain. Rivian’s new “Maximus” drive unit uses 41% fewer parts than the Enduro units found in the R1 lineup. By integrating the inverter directly into the drive unit and even using its housing as a mounting structure, Rivian cuts both material cost and assembly time.

 

According to InsideEVs, even the sensors got a rethink. Swapping ultrasonic sensors for corner radars yields a claimed 50% cost reduction, a move that reflects a broader trend toward fewer, more capable components. In theory, that could help Rivian reduce repair costs, a known concern for the brand.

 

 

The front suspension ditches the more complex double-wishbone setup used in the R1 for a simpler MacPherson strut design, cutting costs by 70%. Large die-cast sections reduce underbody part count by 90%, while rear doors shed 65% of their complexity.

 

There’s also a less glamorous but equally important factor: scale. When Rivian launched the R1T and R1S, it was a newcomer building expensive, low-volume vehicles. Now, with higher production targets in sight, it can negotiate better supplier pricing.

 

Something as basic as a windshield reportedly costs half as much on the R2 compared to the R1. Add in the fact that the R2 is simply smaller, and therefore uses fewer raw materials, and the math starts to make sense. At this point, all that’s left is to see how Rivian executes on production and sales.

[jpd80]

How ironic, Ford had a stake in Rivian and gave it away because the engineering was incompatible with what Ford Engineers did.

 

Amazingly, Ford seems to be following a similar philosophy with UEV as Rivian did with R2. Ruthlessly cutting costs and reducing unnecessary complexity.

 

Hopeful green shoots for Ford’s future, praying that they execute this perfectly for launch next year

[rmc523]

14 hours ago, jpd80 said:

How ironic, Ford had a stake in Rivian and gave it away because the engineering was incompatible with what Ford Engineers did.

 

Amazingly, Ford seems to be following a similar philosophy with UEV as Rivian did with R2. Ruthlessly cutting costs and reducing unnecessary complexity.

 

Hopeful green shoots for Ford’s future, praying that they execute this perfectly for launch next year

 

I don't remember - is Ford doing the zonal architecture still, or did they scrap that approach?  I remember they stopped work on something.

[akirby]

10 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

I don't remember - is Ford doing the zonal architecture still, or did they scrap that approach?  I remember they stopped work on something.

They scrapped the original plan after skunkworks showed them a far better design

[Sherminator98]

22 minutes ago, akirby said:

They scrapped the original plan after skunkworks showed them a far better design

 

Yeah that happened back in 2023 I want to say

 

[jpd80]

FNV4 was cancelled in early 2025 in favor of skunkworks developed wiring strategy

 

The biggest issue Ford Eng created was allowing development of up to 200

software controlled modules that are controlled by suppliers in its key vehicles.

That along with aluminum shortage are big crosses that Ford is currently bearing.

Edited Wednesday at 07:32 PM by jpd80

[rmc523]

Rivian CEO Hints the R2 Could Spawn a Pickup and Performance Model - Autoblog

 

While Scaringe did not get into details, he did suggest R2 versions may include pickup or performance models. “There are other variants of R2, which we haven’t shown,” Scaringe said in an interview with the news agency when asked about a pickup variant of the R2. “What we’re building in Georgia allows for different variations,” he added.

Rivian previously said the R2 midsize platform would also underpin a smaller R3 crossover and the R3X performance variant further down the line, but it looks like an R2X performance model is also in the cards. “So clearly there could be an R2X,” Scaringe said. “There’s going to be combinations. I want to be careful not to announce the program.”

[fordmantpw]

7 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

“There’s going to be combinations. I want to be careful not to announce the program.”

 

LOL, dude, you just did announce the program! 😄 

[rmc523]

16 minutes ago, fordmantpw said:

 

LOL, dude, you just did announce the program! 😄 

 

Right?  Lol