Rivian’s expansion of its Normal, Illinois, facility is progressing ahead of schedule as the electric vehicle (EV) maker prepares to launch production of its new midsize R2 model in 2026, a company executive said.
The automaker is constructing a 1.1-million-square-foot addition on the east side of its plant, which will serve as the body shop and general assembly for the R2. Once completed, the expansion will increase the facility’s annual production capacity to 215,000 vehicles, up from the current 150,000.
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Despite winter conditions, construction has advanced well, Rivian said. “We are running slightly ahead on this building,” Tony Sanger, vice president of production facilities at Rivian, said. He noted that the structural steel for the new facility is 70% complete, while roof decking has reached about 60%.
The company has also made significant progress on its Parts Pre-Treat and E-Coat Dip building, which is nearly weather-tight, Sanger added. Rivian expects its integrator to begin installing equipment next month.
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Rivian is developing a new high-speed test track to replace the one removed to accommodate the expansion, with completion expected this spring. CEO RJ Scaringe recently previewed the R2 body, sharing an image of the first R2 in e-coat. “Maybe we should do a Launch Green for R2 as well,” Scaringe said, referencing the greenish color first used on the R1 lineup.
The R2, which will start at approximately $45,000, will be produced at the Normal facility before production ramps up at Rivian’s upcoming Georgia plant, slated to open in 2028 with an annual capacity of up to 400,000 vehicles. Rivian has also confirmed plans for additional models, including the smaller R3 and performance-oriented R3X.
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