How Rivian Designed the R1, R2 & R3 — Jeff Hammoud, Chief Design Officer

On this episode of The InEVitable by MotorTrend, we sit down with Jeff Hammoud, Chief Design Officer at Rivian, to unpack the full design story behind the Rivian R1T, R1S, R2, and R3. Jeff shares his journey from Chrysler and Jeep to joining Rivian in its earliest days—when there was no logo, no brand, and barely a prototype. We dive deep into how Rivian’s iconic design language was created, why the trucks look friendly instead of aggressive, and how real-world use cases (like motorcycles, garages, and families) shaped the vehicles. 0:00 – Welcome to The Inevitable 1:16 – Jeff Hammoud joins (Rivian Chief Design Officer) 3:27 – Jeff’s origin story: cars, design, and Mercedes influence 6:52 – Chrysler, Jeep, and early career lessons 10:22 – Surviving Chrysler’s darkest years 16:49 – Leaving FCA to join Rivian 18:48 – Rivian’s early days: no brand, no rules 21:47 – Designing the R1T and R1S from scratch 24:19 – R1T proportions, bed design, and gear tunnel 28:12 – The story behind Rivian’s iconic headlights 32:18 – Why Rivian avoided copying other SUVs 39:09 – Cybertruck vs Rivian: design philosophy 41:10 – R2 design, differences, and future variants 49:12 – R3 & R3X: rally-car inspiration explained 54:25 – UI/UX, software, autonomy, and AI at Rivian If you’re interested in EVs, automotive design, Rivian, or the future of mobility, this is a must-watch conversation. 🎧 Listen to The InEVitable wherever you get your podcasts 🚙 More from MotorTrend: https://www.motortrend.com MotorTrend is the ultimate destination for gearheads looking for the latest automotive research and news. Find the right car, truck or suv for you. ➡️: https://www.motortrend.com/car-finder Follow MotorTrend for the latest! MotorTrend News: https://www.motortrend.com Facebook: / motortrend Instagram: / motortrend Twitter(X): / motortrend TikTok: / motortrend MotorTrend preferred music partner: Universal Production Music MotorTrend is a fully owned subsidiary of Hearst Communications Inc.