Amazon makes major investment in Rivian

Rivian on the receiving end of a $700 million infusion from Amazon. (Courtesy WMBD)

 

By Katherine Murphy

NORMAL– It’s official – Rivian announcing Friday morning an equity investment round of $700M led by Amazon.

The influx of cash comes on the heels of the introduction of the R1T pick up truck and R1S SUV at the Los Angeles auto show.

The electric cars will be built in the old Mitsubishi Motors plant in Normal and will roll out in 2020.

The deal with Rivian is Amazon’s second transportation based investment this month – the first with Aurora – an autonomous vehicle technology company.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…