Amazon-backed EV startup Rivian Automotive plans to build a second U.S. assembly plant that will also include battery cell production, four people fam

Amazon-backed Rivian confirms plan for second U.S. assembly plant

submited by
Style Pass
2021-07-22 17:30:04

Amazon-backed EV startup Rivian Automotive plans to build a second U.S. assembly plant that will also include battery cell production, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

"While it's early in an evolving process, Rivian is exploring locations for a second U.S. manufacturing facility," Rivian spokeswoman Amy Mast said on Thursday. She declined to provide further details.

Multiple U.S. states have bid for the plant -- dubbed "Project Tera" in documents -- which will be announced in a couple of months and break ground early next year, said the sources, who asked not to be identified. The timing could still change given the coronavirus pandemic, which has already delayed the planned announcement from the summer, the sources said.

"We look forward to working with a supportive, technology-forward community in order to create a partnership as strong as the one we have with Normal," Mast said.

The typical cost of a new vehicle assembly plant at present is $1 billion or more, while a battery cell production factory is at least $2 billion. Other automakers have partnered with battery manufacturers on cell production. Samsung supplies battery cells to Rivian.

Leave a Comment