Rivian’s manufacturing unit in Regular, Illinois was immediately hit by a twister and sustained injury over the weekend, the corporate has confirmed to TechCrunch. No person was injured, in accordance with Rivian, and employees are nonetheless assessing the extent of the injury.
The twister, which had an EF-1 depth score, hit what Rivian refers to as “Constructing 2,” the place the corporate makes its R2 SUV. Rivian has paused operations within the constructing and expects to start out again up someday this week, in accordance with an e mail, considered by TechCrunch, that CEO RJ Scaringe despatched to employees on Sunday evening.
“Thanks to our staff members on website who sought protected shelter and adopted our emergency administration protocols when the twister alarms sounded,” he wrote. “I’m happy with how everybody got here collectively, not simply to observe security protocols, however to assist each other and lead the cleanup and restore efforts with such care and willpower.”
Footage shared on-line present that a big part of the roof got here down inside the ability. The corporate didn’t say whether or not the momentary shutdown will have an effect on the timing of the rollout of the R2, which is meant to occur within the coming weeks.
The twister hit a more recent a part of the manufacturing unit, primarily used for R2 logistics similar to deliveries of elements, in accordance with Rivian.
“As soon as we safe the impacted space, we anticipate resuming operations in Constructing 2 (particularly for R2) this week,” spokesperson Marina Hoffmann mentioned in an e mail, including that operations at different amenities proceed as deliberate.
Rivian has rather a lot using on the launch. The corporate has invested time, sources and capital over the past 5 years to scale back the price of manufacturing automobiles in its present R1 portfolio. However Rivian nonetheless loses cash each quarter — largely, in accordance with Scaringe, as a result of the corporate is investing in infrastructure now that may begin to repay when the R2 SUV reaches scale.
Techcrunch occasion
San Francisco, CA
|
October 13-15, 2026
The R2 SUV is meant to assist Rivian cease shedding cash. The automaker hopes to promote lots of of hundreds of them per 12 months, and it’s banking on an especially sizzling begin for the SUV. The corporate has estimated that it’s going to promote between 20,000 and 25,000 of them by the tip of this 12 months. That will make it one of many quickest launches of a brand new EV within the U.S. ever, simply behind Tesla’s extraordinarily profitable Mannequin Y.
Manufacturing of the R2 is beginning out on the Regular plant alongside the prevailing R1 automobiles (and Rivian’s electrical supply van), although the corporate is on the point of construct a wholly new manufacturing unit exterior of Atlanta, Georgia as effectively. That manufacturing unit shall be residence to manufacturing of the R2 and the forthcoming R3 hatchback, which the corporate surprise-revealed in March 2024.
Rivian broke floor on the Georgia manufacturing unit late final 12 months and is meant to start out vertical building this 12 months. Manufacturing is anticipated to start in 2028.
