IRVINE, Calif./AUSTIN, Texas (March 18, 2026) – The wraps came off of R2, debuting the full trim lineup and pricing for the newest member of the Rivian family. Festival-goers also got to attend inspiring sessions and enjoy live music at the Electric Roadhouse and other local venues.

Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe and engineer and YouTube creator Mark Rober hosted the ultimate autonomous robot challenge at the Electric Roadhouse in front of a packed crowd. The presentation pitted audience participants against a robot (lovingly nicknamed Kevin by an audience member!), testing human reactions vs. machine learning to help demonstrate Rivian’s approach to autonomy. Spoiler alert: Kevin won!

800 North Congress Ave was transformed into Rivian’s Electric Joyride, a rugged off-road proving ground for R2. Thousands of people and counting hopped in the passenger seat while one of the expert drivers navigated steep hills, sharp turns, and uneven ground on the custom 245-foot off-road course built right in the middle of downtown Austin.

Rivian hosted panels covering wide-ranging topics at the Electric Roadhouse. Our Chief Design Officer Jeff Hammoud and Lake Flato’s Tenna Florian explored how to design environments that serve as seamless bridges to nature, moderated by Rich Roll. The stage also featured Rivian’s Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid and Fast Company’s Max Ufberg, who chatted about how Rivian is building vehicles that don’t just react to the world, but actively anticipate the needs of the adventurer. Rivian CFO Claire McDonough, Madison Reed CEO Amy Errett, and Spotify’s Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins engaged an audience of future leaders in a powerful conversation centered on purpose-driven leadership and consumer-focused solutions.

Rivian’s Electric Roadhouse was buzzing all week with festival-goers eager to check out the all-new R2 in-person. The Roadhouse became a storytelling backdrop for R2, with interactive moments that brought the vehicle to life. Guests explored the full color and trim lineup, dug into Rivian’s approach to autonomy, and saw an artistic take on storage through oversized inflatable interpretations of everyday gear; ski bags, carry-ons, and the kinds of things you’re always hauling on an adventure.

Rivian also served up scoops from their custom Ben & Jerry’s ice cream truck and powered mornings with Proud Mary coffee poured off the R1T tailgate. KUTX’s lineup of local bands brought electric vibes to the Roadhouse, celebrating Austin’s vibrant music scene all weekend long.

Orville Peck took to the stage at the Rivian Electric Joyride against a backdrop featuring R2 and the Austin sunset. Throughout the evening, Orville pulled from across his catalog for a crowd that showed up big to take it all in. The Lumineers brought it home on March 16 for Rivian’s first-ever Electric Session to celebrate SXSW and the debut of R2 with a show at Moody Amphitheater filled with non-stop energy.

Follow Rivian on Instagram and keep an eye out for Stories to find out where R2 might pop up next!

To learn more about R2 and to place your reservation, visit rivian.com.

Can’t wait to try a Rivian? Demo drive R1.