Rivian has officially begun expanding its Normal, Illinois factory to make way for the production of its new R2 platform, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth.
Chief Operations Officer Javier Varela confirmed the news, stating that the construction crews have broken ground on the expansion project.
In a LinkedIn post, Varela shared the update, saying, “Rivian R2 is one step closer to coming to market! We broke ground in Normal (Illinois) to begin expanding the plant to build R2, in addition to our current products.
R2 is our new fully electric midsize SUV coming in 2026 with a range of more than 300 miles and a starting price around $45,000 (U.S.).” The groundbreaking ceremony took place on November 8, as illustrated by an image posted by CEO RJ Scaringe.
Exciting week in Normal — construction of our expansion for R2 is underway! pic.twitter.com/HfFu7cdIwp
— RJ Scaringe (@RJScaringe) November 8, 2024
The expansion follows the Town of Normal’s approval of Rivian’s application earlier this year, and the addition will bring 1.14 million square feet to the factory, which currently spans 2.6 million square feet.
The R2, which was unveiled in March, is designed to be a more affordable electric vehicle, helping Rivian increase deliveries and work towards profitability.
The new midsize SUV will offer a more accessible option compared to Rivian’s R1T and R1S models, with an anticipated starting price of $45,000 and a range of over 300 miles.
While Rivian has seen success with its first two vehicles, the company is still working toward achieving profitability, and the R2 platform is seen as a key step in this direction.
The addition of the new factory space and the introduction of the R2 SUV will help Rivian expand its presence in the competitive electric vehicle market.
