By Adam Studzinski
NORMAL – Gov. Bruce Rauner made a trip to Normal Tuesday to officially welcome Rivian Automotive to Central Illinois.
Speaking at what’s now being called the Rivian Automotive plant, Rauner said this is a great day for all of Illinois.
“This is what makes Illinois such a wonderful place; people of our community coming together to overcome challenges and create a better future for everybody,” he said.
Rivian officially closed on its purchase of the former Mitsubishi Motors plant earlier this year. Rauner said he’ll continue doing what he can to help the company as it moves towards vehicle production.
“We look forward to helping them build more operations here, relocate folks from other parts of the country here to Illinois,” Rauner said.
Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe hoped to set his company’s roots in the Twin Cities.
“Both in terms of the type of relationships we have with the educational institutes, both at the collegiate level as well as the elementary level, as a way to leverage these assets to embrace science, technology, mathematics,” Scaringe said.
Rauner added what Rivian is doing is “incredible.” He said he’ll continue doing what he can to help the company as it moves towards vehicle production.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].
