Rivian CEO confirms Normal plant shutdown for new upgrade

Rivian CEO, RJ Scaringe confirmed that its Normal, Illinois manufacturing plant is going through maintenance to upgrade efficiency and bring production cost control.

In a short video clip posted on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, Scaringe showed that the facility is completely shut down for production-related activities.

“So I am standing at our final assembly line here and It is the first time in more than two years that it has no cars on it.” Said RJ Scaringe.

The Rivian Chief said that the company is making many new improvements for efficiency and cost reduction.

Rivian recently posted its first quarter of 2024 delivery and production results. The company produced 13,980 vehicles at its Normal plant and delivered 13,588 in the quarter.

It is forecasting 57,000 vehicle production for this year compared with 57,232 vehicles in 2023. It also preparing to reduce the 10 percent salaried workforce.

The plant has been a key to Rivian’s growth in the electric vehicle realm.

Last month Rivian revealed its new R2 mid-sized electric SUV along with R3 and R3X EVs. At that time, the automaker confirmed that it had paused construction at the Georgia manufacturing plant.

Rivian R2 (Image Credit: Rivian)

The plant’s construction was announced in 2021 and the company committed about $5 billion to build this facility.

This pause will allow Rivian to save more than $2.25 billion in capital to support the production of the R2 vehicle, which is scheduled for deliveries in the first half of 2026.

Rivian also said that it will expand the total output of the Normal plant to 215,000 units per year. The plant will focus on R1T, R1S, EDV, RCV, and R2 vehicle production.

Amid this pause, the company said it will resume work on the Georgia plant as soon as R2 begins to ramp up in production.

The Rivian boss has not shared an estimated time of resuming operations at the Normal facility but the plant upgrade process might remain active for the entire month.