Rivian’s upcoming R2 electric SUV has made a surprise public appearance at a Tesla Supercharger station in Arizona, giving fans their first look at its built-in charging port.
Photos shared by X user Chrisediting show the compact crossover plugged directly into the charger, confirming it uses the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector—the same one found on Tesla vehicles—without needing an extra adapter. This sighting comes as Rivian ramps up testing ahead of the R2’s production start in early 2026.
The R2, a smaller and more affordable sibling to Rivian’s R1 lineup, features the NACS port on the rear driver’s side fender, matching Tesla’s placement for easy access at Supercharger stalls.
This design tweak addresses a common hassle for non-Tesla EV owners: awkward cable reaches at charging spots. Rivian first started shipping NACS-to-CCS adapters to R1 customers in April 2024, but the company pledged in July that all 2026 models, including the R2, would come with native NACS ports. Higher-end Quad-Motor R1 variants will even include a free CCS adapter for older chargers.
Priced around $45,000 for the base model, the R2 aims to broaden Rivian’s appeal with a five-passenger interior, over 300 miles of driving range on a charge, and quick acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds.
It slots below the larger R1S SUV while competing with the Tesla Model Y and upcoming affordable EVs from Ford and GM.
The native NACS support means R2 owners can tap into Tesla’s vast Supercharger network—over 60,000 stalls worldwide—with seamless plug-and-charge billing and navigation integration showing real-time availability and speeds.
This isn’t the first time Rivian has flexed its Tesla ties; the company gained Supercharger access last year and has been testing adapters extensively.
📸: by @chrisediting https://t.co/oRi4QSrMIt pic.twitter.com/FQbD1ZYixf
— Rivian Updates (@RivianUpdates) September 18, 2025
The R2’s port relocation from earlier prototypes—originally on the passenger side—shows Rivian’s focus on practicality, especially as more automakers adopt NACS.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe confirmed at a recent event that the change makes charging “as effortless as possible,” aligning with the company’s push toward a unified U.S. EV charging standard.
Online buzz has been electric, with Rivian fans on Reddit and X hailing the move as a “game-changer” for road trips. One commenter noted, “No more fumbling with adapters—finally, EVs are playing nice together.”
Skeptics point out potential parking headaches if non-Tesla ports vary, but Rivian’s adventure network of 600+ fast chargers will still support CCS for now.
With production slated for the first half of 2026 at Rivian’s Georgia plant, the R2 could hit roads by summer, bringing Rivian into the mass-market EV segment. Reservations are open on Rivian’s site, with deliveries expected to follow soon after.
This Supercharger spot not only teases the R2’s readiness but underscores the growing harmony in EV charging as the industry standardizes.
Sources: Rivian Updates on X, EV