Rivian has unlocked the complete exterior and interior options for its highly anticipated R2 mid-size electric SUV in the online configurator, while Porsche reached a significant milestone in closed-loop battery recycling by producing cathode active material from 100% recycled raw materials.
Rivian R2: new colors now available
As of mid-September 2026, Rivian customers can now configure the R2 with its full range of exterior colors and a new lighter interior option. Two standout additions are now live:
- Forest Green — a deep metallic green with flake that catches light like leaves in a forest canopy. Priced at $1,500 and available across Performance, Premium, and Standard Long Range trims.
- Borealis — a light-shifting purple inspired by the aurora, priced at $2,000 and currently reserved for the top-spec Performance trim. Many observers consider it one of the most distinctive R2 colors.
Other exterior options remain: Esker Silver (standard, no cost), Glacier White ($1,000), Half Moon Grey ($1,500), and the $2,000 trio of Midnight, Catalina Cove, and Launch Green.
On the interior side, Rivian has added the Coastal Cloud Signature package for $1,000 on Performance and Premium trims. It features a lighter, airier palette with upcycled birch wood and soft textile accents, using durable second-generation Advantex material designed for adventure use. The standard Black Crater Signature remains available.
The R2 Performance with Launch Package remains the primary configuration currently available for order, with the mid-tier Premium trim expected later in 2026 and the Standard arriving in 2027. The expanded color and interior choices give reservation holders more personalization options as deliveries continue to ramp.
Porsche: first battery cells from fully recycled cathodes
In parallel, Porsche announced a major technical milestone in its high-voltage battery-recycling pilot with German specialist cylib. For the first time, the partners have produced battery cells whose cathode active material is made entirely from recycled lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese recovered from end-of-life Porsche batteries.
Since May 2026, high-voltage batteries returned through Porsche Centers in Germany have been processed using cylib's water-based recycling method. Recovered materials are tracked in a dedicated material account and are expected to become available for new battery-cell production from 2028 onward.
Joachim Scharnagl, Porsche's Executive Board member for Procurement, called the achievement "an important technological milestone" for advancing circular-economy principles and reducing reliance on primary raw materials. cylib co-CEO Dr. Lilian Schwich noted that the project demonstrates the practical feasibility of feeding materials from Porsche batteries at the end of their first life back into new high-performance batteries for Porsche vehicles.
The pilot cells are now undergoing real-world testing, with further results expected later in 2026. Insights from the program will inform potential series-production use of recycled cathode materials.
Why both stories matter
Rivian's expanded R2 configurator reflects growing consumer interest and the company's push to differentiate its more accessible mid-size SUV through distinctive design choices. Porsche's recycling progress addresses a core long-term challenge for the EV industry: securing critical battery materials while reducing environmental impact and supply-chain risk. Together, the developments highlight parallel advances in product personalization and sustainable materials loops as the EV market matures.