A fire damaged several electric vehicles at Rivian Automotive’s manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois.
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The incident took place in the parking lot on the north side of the four-million-square-foot factory, which is 130 miles south of Chicago.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and the assembly plant was not affected. The company is currently investigating the cause of the fire. Rivian did not disclose the number and type of vehicles affected.
Rivian, renowned for its R1S SUVs and R1T pickups, has commenced expanding its Normal plant to accommodate the production of its upcoming R2 SUVs, which are slated for release in 2026. These smaller SUV models are considered crucial to Rivian’s future success.
The company recently implemented a three-week shutdown at the plant to facilitate significant retooling aimed at streamlining the production processes and reducing costs. Rivian exclusively manufactures its electric vehicles at the Normal factory, but it has plans to establish a second assembly plant in Georgia.
Rivian temporarily halted the production of its commercial delivery vans, used by retail giant Amazon.com, due to a shortage of parts. However, the company anticipates making up for any missed production in the near future.
It’s concerning to hear about the fire at Rivian’s Illinois plant, but thankfully, there were no injuries reported. The company’s expansion plans and production of new SUV models are significant. It’s good to hear that they are taking steps to address any production issues with their commercial delivery vans.ELCTRIK Speaks
