Welcome to Normal: The town that holds the keys to Rivian’s future (via arstechnica)

[Count Orlok]

Welcome to Normal: The town that holds the keys to Rivian’s future

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[DuoRivians]

At least it’s not another media hit piece on Rivian

 

[Guy]

Good article with some local flavor.

 

[COdogman]

I forgot they only paid $16 million for the normal factory. Compare that to the cost of the new facility in GA ($5 billion) and you get an idea how hard this business is. Very smart move on their part. And the community seems to have embraced them and vice versa.

 

[Zachhasty03]

Great to see the EV program I’m in at Heartland Community College being featured in the article!

 

[itselectric]

I haven't had a chance to visit this town or the factory yet, but hoping to weasel my way in at some point this year.

 

[sillygoose]

Picked up my R1S in Normal last Thursday, my guide came by to say hello, Curtis picked us up at the airport in an R1S and gave our group a factory tour which included a history of the site and its acquisition. Then we were dropped off at the delivery center where the R1S was handed over.

With over 7000 employees, Rivian is only the third largest employer, State Farm is the largest (Normal and Bloomington form the metro area). Lots of finished R1 and EDV in the lot, rail cars and tractor trailers being loaded.

What is there and i didn’t see mentioned is Route 66:

 

[clcbjc123]

An honest take, " Tim Fallon, vice-president for manufacturing operations at Rivian, joined the company after 16 years at Nissan. While the start-up did make mistakes, he said, “I wouldn’t call it ‘production hell.’ I would say it’s being in the auto industry.”

 

[CrazyOne]

I forgot they only paid $16 million for the normal factory. Compare that to the cost of the new facility in GA ($5 billion) and you get an idea how hard this business is. Very smart move on their part. And the community seems to have embraced them and vice versa.

I seriously doubt those are apples to apples numbers. 16 million is probably for the land and structure. $5 billion is to build a factory that builds R2.

 

[COdogman]

I seriously doubt those are apples to apples numbers. 16 million is probably for the land and structure. $5 billion is to build a factory that builds R2.

I understand that. I’m pretty sure if you compared the $16 million for the old Mitsubishi plant and what it costs even in that same year to build a new structure of the same size it would still be considered a bargain.

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