Rivian’s last chance to take on Tesla

July 1, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

A tornado tore through Rivian’s factory in Normal, Illinois, four days before The Verge’s Andy Hawkins was scheduled to visit. The storm ripped a hole in the ceiling of the building where the company’s new R2 vehicle was coming off the assembly line, flooded the floor, and left a wall missing. When Hawkins arrived, workers were cleaning up, and executives were giving speeches about resilience and coming together in the face of adversity. But as Hawkins tells The Vergecast’s David Pierce, everyone in the room understood the subtext: the tornado was not the only thing they were talking about. Rivian has been battered by years of production delays, political headwinds against EVs, and a car market that has made it nearly impossible for a new American automaker to survive. The R2 is the company’s best shot at breaking out of what the industry calls the Valley of Death. If it fails, Rivian may have to reinvent itself as something other than a car company.

The R2 as a make-or-break vehicle

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What you'll learn

1 (00:01) **Introduction: Rivian at a Crossroads** - David Pierce sets up the episode: Rivian is a fascinating company at a make-or-break moment, needing to sell mainstream cars at mainstream prices to survive.
2 (04:30) **Andy Hawkins Joins: The Tornado at the Factory** - Andy describes arriving at Rivian's factory just days after a tornado hit, damaging the part of the complex producing the crucial R2.
3 (06:47) **The Make-or-Break Stakes of the R2** - The atmosphere at the factory carried an undercurrent of desperation: the R2 *must* work for Rivian to survive.
4 (08:52) **Headwinds Have Gotten Stronger Since the R2 Launch** - Comparing the situation to two years ago, the political and regulatory environment for EVs has become much more dire.
5 (11:11) **The R2's Ambition vs. The Model Y** - The key question is whether the R2 needs to be as successful as Tesla's Model Y, the best-selling car in the world.
6 (12:56) **First Impressions of the R2** - Andy shares his initial take on the R2 after seeing it in person: it's a "big win" in terms of design and execution.
7 (19:38) **Price is the New King of the EV Market** - The conversation shifts to how price has overtaken range and charging as the primary consumer concern for EVs.

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Guests on this episode

David Pierce

Show Notes

For years, Rivian has looked like one of the most compelling electric vehicle companies in America — and maybe the car maker most equipped to take on Tesla. All that potential comes down to this: the R2, the long-awaited and more affordable car that Rivian hopes can make it truly mainstream. After a journey to the R2's factory earlier this year, The Verge's Andrew Hawkins explains what the R2 is, why it matters, and what happens to Rivian if it's a hit — or a flop.