Rivian reveals new vehicles, shifts new EV vehicle production to factory in Normal

Posted on March 7, 2024
Rivian unveiled the new vehicles Thursday afternoon. (Photo courtesy: Rivian/Twitter)

By Blake Haas

NORMAL – Electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive unveiled a much-anticipated, less expensive vehicles Thursday afternoon.

The smaller and less expensive “R2” and “R3” crossover stands at a starting price of $45,000, down from the “R1” truck’s starting price of $73,000.

In a surprise move, Rivian plans to produce the new “R2” SUV in Normal instead of an unbuilt factory in Georgia.

“The (new vehicles) combines capability, performance, utility, storage, functionality in a way that we think fits right into a huge customer need and a huge need in the market,” said Rivian Founder RJ Scaringe Thursday afternoon. “The vehicle size, the vehicle capability really has been optimized around enabling and inspiring all those adventures.”

WATCH: RJ Scaringe unveiled the new vehicles Thursday afternoon:

https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1DXGyjobyWeJM

The move to shift production to the factory in Normal saves the company over $2 billion and allows the company to begin shipping the new vehicles by 2026.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker applauded the move, calling it a big win for Bloomington-Normal.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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