“Our Georgia site remains a crucial part of our operations,” stated R.J. Scaringe, the CEO of Rivian, during an event where he unveiled two new SUVs. “It plays a key role in expanding our production across all our vehicles.”
The R2, a five-passenger SUV, was initially planned to be the first vehicle manufactured in Georgia. However, production has been shifted to Normal, Ill., to expedite delivery to customers, according to Mr. Scaringe. The R2 is expected to be available in the first half of 2026 with a starting price of around $45,000, significantly lower than the larger R1S SUV. Mr. Scaringe described the R2 as a vehicle that combines various features to meet a significant customer demand.
Additionally, Rivian unveiled the R3, a compact SUV, and its high-performance version, the R3X. Details regarding production timelines and locations for these models were not disclosed.
The delay in constructing the new factory is a setback for Georgia and Governor Brian Kemp, who had promoted it as the state’s largest economic development project. Rivian had anticipated the plant to generate 7,500 jobs and produce 400,000 vehicles annually.
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