jbssfelix
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- J
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2022
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 120
- Reaction score
- 217
- Location
- Denver, CO
- Vehicles
- Tesla Model 3; Rivian R1S
It's possible in automotive manufacturing, but highly unlikely with the R1/R2. They don't share the same architecture or chassis, so building the line to accommodate both would be stupidly expensive.I must be missing something. I don't see how you can take one shift and make a completely different vehicle, then switch back to another for the other two shifts.
If they wanted to build the R2 at Normal, they'd likely take one of the lines down and retool it solely for the R2 (gasp...I wonder if that's what they're doing this summer lol jk). I believe there are three lines total...they could have one for each product. However, that approach also means reducing efficiency, as now you can only build to the max throughput of a single line, so if R2 is still in pilot mode, it would likely sit idle a lot.
My guess is the R2 will likely be "coachbuilt" until GA, and all line builds, pre-prod and prod, will happen there. That or Rivian will build a separate mini line for the R2 at Normal and builds will be a hybrid of a full assembly vs handbuilt until GA spins up.
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