Rivian’s R2 Plant Was Struck by a Tornado Weeks Before Crucial Launch
Gizmodo • • business
Key Points:
- Rivian's factory in Normal, Illinois, was damaged by an EF-1 tornado, impacting Building 2 where the new mid-size R2 electric SUVs are produced, leading to a temporary closure of that facility.
- Despite the damage, Rivian reported no injuries and expects to resume operations in Building 2 within the week, with other facilities continuing as planned.
- The tornado disruption comes just weeks before the planned spring launch of the R2, a more affordable electric SUV crucial to Rivian's profitability strategy, with an estimated starting price of $57,990 for the performance version.
- Rivian aims to sell 20,000 to 25,000 R2 vehicles by the end of 2024, and the R2 is also central to Uber's robotaxi plans, with Uber investing $1.25 billion in Rivian and planning to purchase up to 50,000 R2 SUVs for its autonomous fleet.
- Uber's Rivian R2 robotaxi fleet is expected to debut in San Francisco and Miami in 2028, with expansion to up to 25 cities across North America and Europe by 2031.
