Episode 550: Rivian R2 Gets Glowing First Reviews

Episode 550: Rivian R2 Gets Glowing First Reviews

From Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast by Ryan McCaffrey

February 15, 2026 · 1h 44m

About this episode

The episode discusses the positive initial reviews of Rivian's R2, along with updates on Ferrari's first full-BEV and Toyota's new Highlander EV.

Rivian's first high-volume, more affordable vehicle – the R2 – is getting closer to release, and the initial reviews are extremely positive. Plus: Ferrari's first-ever full-BEV has a very unique interior designed by longtime Apple designer Jony Ive, Toyota gets a bit more serious about electrification with its just-announced Highlander EV, and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/teslapodcast and consider a monthly or (10% discounted!) annual pledge. Every little bit helps, and you can support for just $5 per month. And there are stacking bonuses in it for you at each pledge level, like early access to each episode at the $5 tier and the weekly Lightning Round bonus mini-episode (AND the early access!) at the $10 tier! And NO ADS at every Patreon tier ! Also, don't forget to leave a message on the Ride the Lightning hotline anytime with a question, comment, or discussion topic for next week's show! The toll-free number to call is 1-888-989-8752. INTERESTED IN A FLEXIBLE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR YOUR TESLA? Be a part of the future of transportation with XCare, the first extended warranty designed &…

Topics covered

  • Rivian R2
  • Ferrari BEV
  • Toyota Highlander EV
  • electrification

Keywords

  • electric vehicles
  • automotive news
  • EV market

Sponsors

XCare

Mentioned in this episode

Products: R2, Highlander, TESLA, XCare, Lightning, the Infinity Shield, Rivian R2, Ferrari BEV, Toyota Highlander EV

Books & works: Lightning Round

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