From The Duke of Middleville.

Rivian is launching the R2 in two different hardware generations — and that decision could have a major impact on depreciation, resale value, and long-term ownership cost.

In this video, I break down the real risk behind Rivian R2 Gen 2 vs Gen 3, and why the decision isn’t as simple as “wait for LiDAR.” The biggest issue isn’t range, performance, or build quality — it’s how hardware changes affect resale value and whether paying more actually delivers better real-world capability.

We look at:
• Why a two-generation launch can create a resale cliff
• How Gen 2 and Gen 3 R2 hardware actually differs
• Why LiDAR doesn’t automatically mean better autonomy
• How Gen 3 vehicles may primarily be used for ground-truthing
• Why Gen 2 R2 buyers may still receive most autonomy improvements
• Whether waiting for Gen 3 is actually worth the cost

I also analyze real viewer comments from a previous R2 video, showing how buyers are split between waiting for Gen 3 and buying Gen 2 at launch — and why both sides have valid reasons.

If you’re considering buying a Rivian R2, this video will help you understand:
• The depreciation risk of Gen 2 vs Gen 3
• The true cost of “future-proofing”
• Whether Gen 3 buyers are paying for certainty or becoming beta testers
• How resale value really follows software, not sensor count

This isn’t hype.
This is about making a smart buying decision.

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