Rivian to open second U.S. manufacturing plant

Rivian will expand its manufacturing operations, locating its second U.S. plant near Atlanta. The carbon-conscious campus, a project that represents a $5 billion site development and manufacturing investment, will eventually employ more than 7,500 workers.

Once ramped, the new facility will be able to produce up to 400,000 vehicles per year. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2022, with the start of production slated for 2024.

The automaker also is scaling its capacity at its existing plant in Normal, Ill. That plant was recently approved for a 623,000-sq.-ft. expansion, which will bring the total footprint of the Normal plant to approximately 4 million sq. ft. with further plans to extend warehouse, storage, and production capacity on-site. The company plans to add 800 to 1,000 employees in Normal by Q2 2022.