Rivian said it has officially broken ground on its planned electric vehicle factory outside Atlanta, Georgia, a project expected to cost around $5 billion and eventually produce up to 400,000 vehicles a year.
CEO RJ Scaringe joined Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and other officials at a ceremonial event marking early site preparation, including road access, electrical hookups and water systems. Full construction is slated to start in early 2026, with production of next-generation EVs beginning in 2028.
Rivian said the plant will create 7,500 permanent jobs and 2,000 construction jobs, with an outside analysis projecting nearly 8,000 indirect roles through local suppliers. As of June 30, Rivian had invested about $80 million in the site and hired 47 full-time employees, according to documents reviewed by TechCrunch.
The project, first announced in 2021, faced delays due to community opposition, pandemic-related supply chain constraints, and Rivian’s decision to prioritize expanding its Illinois plant to launch the more affordable R2 SUV. The company revived its Georgia plans in late 2024 after securing a $6.6 billion Department of Energy loan to help finance the build.
Despite speculation that the new Trump administration might challenge the federal loan, the deal has remained intact. Scaringe told CNBC the factory is intended to serve as a global production hub once operational in 2028.