Rivian Set To Build Huge Plant, Based In Georgia

Rivian will build its second factory making it one of the largest factories in Georgia, starting with a nearly $5 billion investment.

A lot has happened for this EV startup company starting with the debut of its first pickup truck called the R1T and then the largest IPO for an American company since Facebook, when this company went public on the stock market.

This new public investment into Rivian allows the company to start building its second factor this summer on a 10,000-acre plot located just east of Atlanta. Is it possible that this new company will somehow give us something that Tesla has not been able to for the past several years? Only time will tell.

The New Factory Opens in 2024

They might break ground over the summer of 2022, but Rivian will not have this second factory operational until sometime in 2024. This new “carbon-conscious campus” will be the place where more than 7,500 people in the area will work to create the electric vehicles coming from this brand. The plant itself will not take up the entire 10,000 acres but will be closer to 2,000 acres when it’s done with an abundance of natural space around the facility.

Rivian plans to do more than simply place a factory in Georgia to build vehicles. They are already planning a series of town hall events and community outreach programs in the area to engage with the community and become part of the area where they operate.

The goal of this new factory is to build up to 400,000 vehicles per year to bring more electric vehicles to the market under the Rivian name. In addition to this new factory in Georgia, Rivian is upgrading the factory in Normal, Illinois, to give this original plant an expansion of 623,000 square feet, which will bring this factory to a total of 4 million square feet in space. The factory in Normal will hire up to 1000 new employees by the second quarter of 2022 to support the rapid growth of this company.

What Does Rivian Build?

Currently, there are two vehicles that are being built under the Rivian name, giving us something completely different from Tesla. Rivian builds the R1S, which is an SUV that is powered only by electricity, and this year, they added the R1T to the mix to be an electric truck. With a new factory opening, it’s possible we will see several new vehicles offered with this name over the next few years.

Check Out the R1S

The 2022 Rivian R1S is an electric SUV that reaches into the premium market to give you the comfort you want to enjoy on and off the road. You can have room for up to seven people when you take this SUV out for a drive. This vehicle gives you a traditional SUV build, which is a vast difference from the Tesla Model X, which is similarly priced.

One of the most impressive features of the R1S is the Driver+ feature which is a package of items to help you drive this SUV without driving it. This system is a hands-free, semi-autonomous driving system that makes things easier and less stressful while also giving you more safety during your drive. The R1S

continually receives over-the-air updates, which will improve this system to give you a hands-free driving experience.

You’ll probably want to enjoy the benefits of the off-road upgrade that is part of what can be had for the Rivian R1S. This upgrade gives you the items you need when you’re ready to head out on the trails for a drive. When you add this package, you’ll have a reinforced underbody shield, front tow hooks, and an air compressor. This package is optional on the base trim and a standard part of the other two trims you’ll find.

When you let the Rivian R1S be the SUV you want to drive, you’ll have four electric motors pushing the power to each of the wheels for you. This SUV can hit sixty mph in three seconds and tow up to 7,700 pounds. You’ll also enjoy a driving range of 316 miles when you get behind the wheel.

What Does the R1T Bring?

We don’t have a midsize electric pickup truck coming from any of the other automakers, but Rivian offers us the R1T, which is exactly what we’re looking for. None of the other electric trucks being offered are in the same size class as the R1T. We don’t know if the production of this Rivian truck will move to the new Georgia plant or not, but for now, this is a truck you could enjoy and drive when you want this size and an electric powertrain.

As you might expect, the R1T also offers you the benefits of the Driver+ system, which uses 11 cameras, five radar units, and 12 ultrasonic sensors to ensure you can drive without worry for several miles. This system will keep you out of trouble and can do some of the driving for you when you’re out on the road.

Rivian created the R1T to be an off-road vehicle and a truck you can use when you want to have an adventure in the wilderness. The GearTunnel is an area of this truck that is situated between the rear doors and rear wheels, offering you 11 cubic feet of storage space for you to put some of the gear you need to take along for your camping trip. Rivian also offers an optional Camp Kitchenkit that has a 30-piece cookware set that can be put in the Gear Tunnel.

Like the R1S, the R1T has four electric motors and can provide you with 800 horsepower and 900 lb.-ft. of torque during your drive. Tow up to 11,000 pounds of gear and enjoy the fact that you can drive for up to 314 miles on a single full charge. What will Rivian build in the new Georgia plant? That’s yet to be seen, but it’s possible that Rivian is prepared to take over the EV market and be the brand we choose over Tesla in the future.