Rivian’s R2 beat its own climate goals four years early

Rivian always planned for its all-important R2 vehicle to be less expensive than its pricey R1 predecessors, but also less polluting. The production process for the R2 would rely on more renewable energy, and the vehicle itself would feature more recycled and biodegradable materials than the models that came before it. With this and a few other tricks, Rivian set the target to achieve a 50 percent lifetime carbon reduction for the R2 by 2030.

Today, the company released its 2025 impact report outlining its sustainability progress for the year. The main takeaway is that over the entire lifespan — everything from production, driving, and eventually recycling — the R2 Performance generates only half the greenhouse gas emissions of Rivian’s original 2022 R1 vehicles. And it did it four years ahead of schedule.