{"id":"1792836135651-tech-segment","slug":"rivian-s-cheaper-r2-takes-on-model-y","title":"Rivian's Cheaper R2 Takes On Model Y","summary":"Rivian's upcoming R2 SUV is expected to start around $45,000, below $50,000, putting it against the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Ford Mustang Mach-E.\n\nUkraine's access to SpaceX's Starshield satellite service has been restricted; Ukrainian soldiers reported the service was still disrupted on Friday.\n\nThe Washington Post reported that Ukrainian soldiers said Starshield access remained disrupted Friday even though President Trump said Elon Musk had lifted restrictions.","publishedAt":"2026-10-24T10:02:15.651Z","channel":{"id":"tech","name":"Oncast Tech","language":"en"},"show":"Morning Brief","verification":{"status":"verified","leadVerdict":"TRUE","notes":"TRUE: Rivian's upcoming R2 SUV is expected to start around $45,000, below $50,000, putting it against the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Ford Mustang Mach-E.\nSource: [fool.com](https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/07/10/rivian-is-getting-a-boost-from-california-could/) NAMES: R2 = Rivian's upcoming smaller, more affordable el (https://x.com/nikjmiles/status/2112197405298819382)\n\nTRUE: Ukraine's access to SpaceX's Starshield satellite service has been restricted; Ukrainian soldiers reported the service was still disrupted on Friday.\nSource: [washingtonpost.com](https://wapo.st/3UeuOlS) NAMES: Starshield = SpaceX's defense/security satellite service built on Starlink; DoD = Department of Defense. (https://bsky.app/profile/blumenthal.senate.gov/post/3mykn5joe3c2u)\n\nTRUE: The Washington Post reported that Ukrainian soldiers said Starshield access remained disrupted Friday even though President Trump said Elon Musk had lifted restrictions.\nSource: [washingtonpost.com](https://wapo.st/3UeuOlS) NAMES: Starshield = SpaceX's defense/security satellite service built on Starlink; SpaceX = Elon Musk's rocket and (https://bsky.app/profile/jamiegangel.bsky.social/post/3mylpmggie22t)","claims":[{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Rivian's upcoming R2 SUV is expected to start around $45,000, below $50,000, putting it against the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Ford Mustang Mach-E.","sourceName":"[fool.com](https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/07/10/rivian-is-getting-a-boost-from-california-could/) NAMES: R2 = Rivian's upcoming smaller, more affordable el","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/nikjmiles/status/2112197405298819382","claim":"The Rivian R2, starting under $50k, is entering the electric vehicle arena. This positions Rivian directly against the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV6, and Ford Mustang Mach-E, marking a significant move in the EV market. #Rivian #EV https://t.co/OVWCxVMo5F","author":"Test Miles (@nikjmiles)"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Ukraine's access to SpaceX's Starshield satellite service has been restricted; Ukrainian soldiers reported the service was still disrupted on Friday.","sourceName":"[washingtonpost.com](https://wapo.st/3UeuOlS) NAMES: Starshield = SpaceX's defense/security satellite service built on Starlink; DoD = Department of Defense.","sourceUrl":"https://bsky.app/profile/blumenthal.senate.gov/post/3mykn5joe3c2u","claim":"Ukraine losing access to Starshield raises serious concerns for our national security—like who controls critical capabilities the U.S. government has spent billions to procure & how decisions to restrict them are made. I'm demanding answers from the Department of Defense & SpaceX","author":"Richard Blumenthal (@blumenthal.senate.gov)"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"The Washington Post reported that Ukrainian soldiers said Starshield access remained disrupted Friday even though President Trump said Elon Musk had lifted restrictions.","sourceName":"[washingtonpost.com](https://wapo.st/3UeuOlS) NAMES: Starshield = SpaceX's defense/security satellite service built on Starlink; SpaceX = Elon Musk's rocket and","sourceUrl":"https://bsky.app/profile/jamiegangel.bsky.social/post/3mylpmggie22t","claim":"Ukraine says satellite access still restricted despite Trump saying otherwise The president said SpaceX CEO Elon Musk lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s access to Starshield, but Ukrainian soldiers said the service was still disrupted Friday. wapo.st/3UeuOlS Gift article","author":"Jamie Gangel (@jamiegangel.bsky.social)"}]},"sources":[{"url":"https://x.com/nikjmiles/status/2112197405298819382","name":"[fool.com](https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/07/10/rivian-is-getting-a-boost-from-california-could/) NAMES: R2 = Rivian's upcoming smaller, more affordable el","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Test Miles (@nikjmiles)"},{"url":"https://bsky.app/profile/blumenthal.senate.gov/post/3mykn5joe3c2u","name":"[washingtonpost.com](https://wapo.st/3UeuOlS) NAMES: Starshield = SpaceX's defense/security satellite service built on Starlink; DoD = Department of Defense.","kind":"bluesky","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Richard Blumenthal (@blumenthal.senate.gov)"},{"url":"https://bsky.app/profile/jamiegangel.bsky.social/post/3mylpmggie22t","name":"[washingtonpost.com](https://wapo.st/3UeuOlS) NAMES: Starshield = SpaceX's defense/security satellite service built on Starlink; SpaceX = Elon Musk's rocket and","kind":"bluesky","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Jamie Gangel (@jamiegangel.bsky.social)"}],"url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1792836135651-tech-segment-rivian-s-cheaper-r2-takes-on-model-y","listenUrl":"https://oncast.fm/c/tech","attribution":{"publisher":"Oncast","site":"https://oncast.fm","url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1792836135651-tech-segment-rivian-s-cheaper-r2-takes-on-model-y","cite":"Cite https://oncast.fm/story/1792836135651-tech-segment-rivian-s-cheaper-r2-takes-on-model-y and the original source links. Fact-check by Oncast (oncast.fm)."},"hostsSaid":[{"host":"Chris","text":"Good morning, it's Saturday just after six. I'm Chris."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"And I'm Matilda. The big stories since last night start with a fight in EV land."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Rivian just aimed its cheaper SUV straight at the Model Y."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"The R2?"},{"host":"Chris","text":"The R2. Test Miles posted the rundown: starting around forty-five thousand dollars."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"That's below the magic fifty."},{"host":"Chris","text":"It faces the Model Y, Hyundai's Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6, and Ford's Mustang Mach-E."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"That's the entire mid-size electric class."},{"host":"Chris","text":"This is the vehicle Rivian had to build if it wants real volume."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"They've needed it for three years. The question is production."},{"host":"Chris","text":"The Illinois plant already makes the R1. Scaling for the R2 is the plan."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Plans are cheap. Rivian has to actually deliver."},{"host":"Chris","text":"If they do, they'll pull buyers who are bored of the Model Y."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"I'll wait for delivery numbers. Not reservation hype."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Fair. But the R2 already has my attention."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Different EV story, and this one is a claim, not confirmed."},{"host":"Chris","text":"What's the claim?"},{"host":"Matilda","text":"James Croft on X says the California governor would rather give EV contracts to Chinese BYD than Tesla or Rivian."},{"host":"Chris","text":"If that's true, it's a terrible look for California."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"But there's no public state contract showing BYD got that deal."},{"host":"Chris","text":"So it's a rumor built on years of Sacramento-Tesla tension."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Exactly. That tension makes people believe it."},{"host":"Chris","text":"We'll keep an eye on actual awards, not anger."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Meanwhile, an Indian name is suddenly on top of an EV efficiency list."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Jugal Kej on X says Tata Motors ranks first globally in battery-electric efficiency for 2025."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Tata ahead of everyone?"},{"host":"Matilda","text":"The ICCT does publish those rankings, but I didn't see that top spot in the public results."},{"host":"Chris","text":"So treat it as one post's claim until the report lands."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Yes. Tata does make small, efficient EVs. Let's see the official number."},{"host":"Chris","text":"For now, Saturday's EV recap: one real launch, one rumor, one ranking to verify."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"And one question: can any of them match the Model Y on price and volume?"},{"host":"Chris","text":"We'll find out. That's the brief."}]}