Rivian suffers pandemic-related setback, electric vehicles won’t be made in Normal this year

Posted on April 7, 2020
The manufacturing plant located at 100 N. Rivian Motorway in Normal. (Photo courtesy Rivian)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

NORMAL – The COVID-19 pandemic is delaying production of electric pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles at Rivian Automotive’s factory in Normal.

The company confirmed the vehicles won’t be rolling off the the assembly line late this year, as planned. Rivian closed all of its facilities last month to protect workers and help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

Up to 1,000 people will work at the former Mitsubishi Motors plant at peak production. Employees continue to be paid during the shutdown and are working from home, according to Rivian.

“While we expect some level of delay, we are working to minimize the disruption to our launch schedule and as we better understand the extent of the impact, you will be the first to know,” the company said in a memo to its workers.

A Rivian spokesperson said 300 people were working at the plant when the company closed its doors last month.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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