Rivian Recommences Development of Its EV Factory Without Physically Starting Construction | Carscoops

      The large $5 billion electric vehicle factory in Georgia will eventually manufacture the R2 and R3 crossovers.

      Rivian has officially started construction on their Georgia facility, which had been on hold since 2024. Building is set to commence next year with production anticipated to begin in 2028. The plant is designed to produce the R2 and R3, aiming for an annual output of 400,000 units.

      Rivian's intermittent Georgia plant project has been revived following a groundbreaking ceremony in Social Circle, though construction is not expected to start until 2026.

      The company, which has been struggling financially, provided limited details about the facility but mentioned that the plant will be constructed in two phases, each phase contributing 200,000 units of production capacity. This will yield a total of 400,000 units, which will be available both domestically and internationally.

      What Will Be Manufactured Here?

      The production focus will be on the upcoming R2 and R3 models. Rivian anticipates that the first vehicles from the Georgia plant will debut in 2028, approximately two years after R2 manufacturing begins in Normal, Illinois.

      The facility is expected to encompass around nine million square feet and will be situated on nearly 2,000 acres. Notably, Rivian plans to include “recreational trails for employees and customers” along with a "Rivian experience trail."

      Jobs and Commitments

      Following Rivian's receipt of a $6.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy during the closing days of the Biden Administration, it is not unexpected that stakeholders— including Georgia Republicans— have promised to create thousands of jobs.

      These are anticipated to encompass 2,000 construction positions and 7,500 jobs at the plant by 2030. Nearly 8,000 indirect jobs are also predicted, with Rivian stating that these new positions could “generate over $1 billion in labor income annually, benefiting suppliers, vendors, and small businesses in the local Jasper, Morgan, Newton, and Walton Counties, as well as the surrounding region.”

      While only time will reveal whether the plant meets its goals, it adds to Georgia's reputation as a hub for electric vehicles. As previously reported, the Peach State is also home to Hyundai's Metaplant, which manufactures the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9.

      In a statement, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe remarked, “We are solidifying Rivian’s future at our Georgia plant, helping to ensure that America retains its leadership in technology and excellence in automobile manufacturing.” He further stated, “Our Georgia facility will facilitate our global expansion and provide the necessary scale to get millions of future drivers into our remarkable all-electric vehicles, in both the United States and abroad.”