Investing.com -- Rivian Automotive Inc. announced Wednesday that its first customer R2 SUVs have started rolling off the production line, with Chief Executive Officer RJ Scaringe positioning the vehicle as central to the company's autonomous driving development.

The R2 fleet will serve as part of training Rivian's large driving model, Scaringe said in a Bloomberg Television interview Wednesday. The vehicle features laser-based sensors and improved chips designed to capture driving data for the company's artificial intelligence technology.

The midsize SUV represents Rivian's push into a broader market segment with a lower price point than its current lineup. The R2 will initially launch with higher-priced variants ranging up to $57,000 for the performance version, while the base $45,000 model will arrive within the next year.

Rivian shifted production of the R2 from a planned multibillion-dollar plant in Georgia to its Normal, Illinois facility, a move expected to save billions in capital spending and accelerate the launch timeline. The company maintained its production schedule despite a tornado damaging part of the Illinois plant Friday.

Scaringe said workers spent the last 72 hours removing water from the facility and working around damaged sections of the factory.

The company plans to introduce advanced driver assistance features later this year, starting with point-to-point Level 2 capabilities that allow hands-off wheel operation while requiring eyes on the road. Rivian expects to launch Level 3 highway autonomy next year, which would permit passengers to look away from the road.