A tornado tore a hole in Rivian’s Normal, Illinois factory. Rivian started production of sellable R2 units anyway. That is the shortest version of what was, by any measure, a meaningful week for EVs moving from waitlists to assembly lines. The R2 configurator is set to open for earliest reservation holders in June. Volvo confirmed the EX60 entered production in Sweden at the same time, with European deliveries planned for this summer and production extended through the break period because reservation demand came in stronger than expected, particularly in Asian and European markets. The Kia EV3 entered pre-production in Mexico, with a starting price expected around $35,000. And the Tesla Cybercab entered production as well.
The EV3 matters partly for where it sits in the market. The Rivian R2 and the Volvo EX60 both approach or exceed $50,000. The EV3 is designed to sit in the segment alongside the Chevrolet Equinox EV as an affordable option with a complete package rather than a stripped-down entry. The Volvo EX60 is rated for 400 miles of range and 400 kW charging with new Volvo software, placing it in the upper tier of current EV specs without crossing into the ultra-premium bracket. Both the R2 and EX60 have had long waits behind them, which means the production announcements carry real weight for reservation holders who have been holding out.
Several other vehicles also moved this week. Hyundai unveiled the Ioniq 3 globally: a 400-volt entry-level EV offered with a 40 kWh battery at up to 200 miles of range or a 60 kWh unit at up to 280 miles. It is not coming to the United States at launch. The Porsche Cayenne EV added a Coupe variant, the sloped-roofline version of the all-electric Cayenne. The Tesla Model Y L, the longer wheelbase three-row variant, has been spotted testing on US roads after launches in Korea and India, suggesting an American release is approaching. The Mercedes C-Class EV was also revealed as an electric-only model on an 800-volt architecture, positioned as a direct competitor to the BMW i3, though with both the C-Class and the CLA now occupying similar space, Mercedes will need to differentiate the two clearly.
Bottom line: Production start announcements lose credibility when they keep getting revised. This week was different: multiple vehicles with real reservation backlogs moved to the line, and the R2 did it while cleaning up tornado damage. That is a good sign about where Rivian’s operations are right now.