Rivian launched the highly anticipated R2 on June 9 and it appears the excitement was short-lived. One of the first models recently sold at auction and it only garnered four bids.

The electric crossover ended up selling for $63,500, which was only $2,015 above its sticker price of $61,485. This means the seller likely ended up losing money on the vehicle after factoring in taxes and expenses.

More: Rivian’s Most Affordable Model Arrives First In Its Most Expensive Form

The R2 Performance Launch Edition was listed on Cars&Bids and the auction wrapped up yesterday. The Catalina Cove crossover only had 71 miles (114 km) on the odometer and it was purchased last month.

Cars&Bids

The seller said they were a “day 1 deposit holder,” which suggests they reserved the R2 back in March of 2024. The seller added they’ve owned several Rivians over the years, but ended up buying a Kia EV9 for his wife.

Despite this, they decided to take the first Catalina Cove R2 that arrived at their local center with the expectation of keeping it and selling the EV9. She apparently liked the three-row EV better, so they decided to flip the Rivian.

While that could just be a story, it seems plausible enough as it’s hard to plan out your vehicle needs and timing nearly two and a half years in advance.

Regardless, it’s interesting that the R2 didn’t sell for more money. The model is still in short supply and the company is “inviting reservation holders to order in rolling batches.” If you reserve today, it’ll take roughly a week to get estimated timing for your order invitation.

As a refresher, the R2 Performance starts at $57,990 and features a dual-motor all-wheel drive system developing 656 hp (489 kW / 665 PS) and 609 lb-ft (825 Nm) of torque. It enables the crossover to accelerate from 0–60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.6 seconds and travel up to 330 miles (531 km) on a single charge.

It comes nicely equipped with Matrix LED headlights, Compass Yellow accents, and 21-inch wheels. Buyers will also find 12-way power front seats with heating and ventilation as well as heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. They’re accompanied by birch wood trim, a nine-speaker premium audio system, and a flashlight integrated into the driver’s door.

The Launch Edition adds a handful of notable extras including a special key fob and a lifetime subscription to Autonomy+, which provides Universal Hands-Free driving on over 3.5 million miles (5.6 million km) of roads in the United States and Canada. The special edition also comes with a tow package that enables the model to haul up to 4,400 lbs (1,996 kg).

Cars&Bids

Rivian has spent years honing production, development, and its customer-facing business. Now, just days after the launch of its most important product yet, the R2, it’s cutting hundreds of jobs. All of these moves come with a single goal in mind: profitability.

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Rivian laid off hundreds of workers on Tuesday. A company spokesperson said the reductions represent less than 2 percent of the automaker’s workforce, which stood at roughly 15,200 employees at the end of 2025. The cuts reportedly focused on Rivian’s service and customer organization, including sales and marketing functions.

Read: Rivian’s R2 Configurator Is Live, And A Spare Tire Costs $755

That seems like an odd move, perhaps, given the brand’s efforts to expand its service network, but the timing and positions affected are key here. The hype around the launch of the R2 is real, despite pricey lease offerings. According to CBT News, around half of buyers are opting to lease the R2 rather than to buy it.

Expensive or not, buyers eager to be near the front of the line will show up regardless of how many folks in sales and marketing still have their jobs. Those affected by the layoffs are encouraged to apply for other open positions in the company. In the meantime, the move allows Rivian to save some cash and edge closer and closer to long-term profitability.

That’s important because Rivian’s premium-first strategy has struggled to generate the volume needed to cover its costs. The company brought in roughly $5.4 billion in revenue last year while selling about 42,000 vehicles, but it has yet to post an annual profit since its founding in 2009. The R2 is the brand’s best chance to change that.

For now, Rivian appears to be making a familiar Silicon Valley calculation. It’s cutting costs today to preserve the cash needed for tomorrow. Whether the R2 becomes the breakthrough product that finally validates that strategy remains the question hanging over the entire company.

Rivian has spent years honing production, development, and its customer-facing business. Now, just days after the launch of its most important product yet, the R2, it’s cutting hundreds of jobs. All of these moves come with a single goal in mind: profitability.

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Rivian laid off hundreds of workers on Tuesday. A company spokesperson said the reductions represent less than 2 percent of the automaker’s workforce, which stood at roughly 15,200 employees at the end of 2025. The cuts reportedly focused on Rivian’s service and customer organization, including sales and marketing functions.

Read: Rivian’s R2 Configurator Is Live, And A Spare Tire Costs $755

That seems like an odd move, perhaps, given the brand’s efforts to expand its service network, but the timing and positions affected are key here. The hype around the launch of the R2 is real, despite pricey lease offerings. According to CBT News, around half of buyers are opting to lease the R2 rather than to buy it.

Expensive or not, buyers eager to be near the front of the line will show up regardless of how many folks in sales and marketing still have their jobs. Those affected by the layoffs are encouraged to apply for other open positions in the company. In the meantime, the move allows Rivian to save some cash and edge closer and closer to long-term profitability.

That’s important because Rivian’s premium-first strategy has struggled to generate the volume needed to cover its costs. The company brought in roughly $5.4 billion in revenue last year while selling about 42,000 vehicles, but it has yet to post an annual profit since its founding in 2009. The R2 is the brand’s best chance to change that.

For now, Rivian appears to be making a familiar Silicon Valley calculation. It’s cutting costs today to preserve the cash needed for tomorrow. Whether the R2 becomes the breakthrough product that finally validates that strategy remains the question hanging over the entire company.

The Rivian R2 is finally available to lease, but shoppers expecting a budget-friendly path into the brand may be in for a surprise. While the automaker’s newest electric crossover starts well below the larger R1S on paper, the real-world lease numbers tell a different story. In fact, whether you put thousands down or nothing at all, the R2 still ends up costing about $1,000 a month to drive.

The 2026 R2 Performance is currently advertised at $829 per month for 36 months with $5,724 due at signing, which includes fees and the first month’s payment. Against its $57,990 MSRP and a 10,000-mile annual allowance, and stripping that first payment out of the upfront total, the effective monthly cost works out to roughly $965.

Read: Rivian’s R2 Configurator Is Live, And A Spare Tire Costs $755

Understandably, many shoppers prefer to evaluate leases with little or no money down. Rivian’s payment estimator shows that removing the down payment increases the monthly payment to $939 for the same 10k miles and 36 months. The amount due at signing falls to roughly $2,334 including the first month, but the effective monthly cost still lands at approximately $978. In other words, the difference between putting money down and keeping that cash in your bank account is only about $13 per month over the life of the lease.

That figure becomes even more interesting when compared to Rivian’s own lineup. CarsDirect points out that less than a month ago, the R1S Dual Standard was available for $799 per month with $5,694 due at signing. That translated to an effective monthly cost of around $935 despite the SUV carrying roughly $19,000 more MSRP than the R2.

Today, that comparison is harder to spot because Rivian quietly increased R1S lease pricing. The same R1S now lists at $899 per month with $8,794 due at signing, resulting in an effective cost of roughly $1,118 monthly. The MSRP remains unchanged, but the lease economics have shifted dramatically.

That points to why some customers say they’re going to wait. Lease programs can change quickly, and lower-priced R2 trims are still on the way. On Reddit, the theme of comments was clear. “1-1.1k/month with no down including taxes and fees is rough. Probably gotta wait for deals,” said one. “I make a good living, but offering a lease at what is essentially 10% APR ($40k in payments over three years) is ridiculous, and I fear they may have miscalculated,” said another.

That said, the hype around the R2 is big. Rivian will likely have little trouble delivering all the examples they can make this year. Once that demand slows, the deals could roll in quickly.

Photos Rivian

Amazon delivery drivers across the United States have, according to prior reporting and driver accounts, described pressure to meet demanding quotas and the presence of in-van AI cameras that monitor driving, but the challenges don’t stop there. According to a new report, the new electric delivery vans cut the air conditioning when the rear sliding door is left open while drivers step out to deliver a package, potentially posing risks for those working in hot climates.

Several drivers have revealed that the latest Amazon delivery vans, built by Rivian, have been updated to turn off the A/C if the sliding rear door is left open for more than 30 seconds. That’s a nuisance given that workers are always stopping, getting out, and delivering packages, often hundreds of times during a shift, and may open the door repeatedly on a single block.

Read: Rivian Van Owners Are Learning A Small Habit Can Lead To A Big Problem

After finding multiple reports of drivers complaining about the issue, 404Media reached out to Amazon seeking clarification about the recent software update. According to the retail giant, the A/C is only turned off if the sliding rear door is left open for 30 seconds.

Amazon Has Its Say

“Rivian recently released a software update for Electric Delivery Vehicles that actually extends climate control for drivers,” Amazon said. “As a result, the AC now runs for up to 10 minutes after a driver exits the vehicle, ensuring a cool cabin when they return. The timer resets at every stop. The AC only shuts off if the driver’s sliding door is left open for more than 30 seconds — a battery conservation measure.” 

In all likelihood, Amazon doesn’t want drivers wasting power by blasting the A/C while the sliding door is open, letting hot air into the cabin. Nevertheless, it would be frustrating for drivers, particularly if they park in one spot and have to deliver multiple packages to one block at the same time, perhaps forcing them to open and close the sliding door repeatedly, or risk the air conditioning switching off.

Will Amazon do anything to address the complaints? It remains to be seen, although Amazon does note its newer Rivian delivery vans also include ventilated seats to help drivers during the summer.

Update: After publication, Amazon contacted Carscoops to note that its delivery drivers are employed by Delivery Service Partners, which set their own routes, and to clarify that its in-van safety cameras record no audio, are reviewed only by trained personnel after a specific safety event rather than monitored in real time, and can be switched off during breaks.