Rivian will construct a supplier park in Normal, Illinois near its existing EV manufacturing plant in the same town. The OEM expects key suppliers to locate in the park, an initiative through which it aims to improve material supply processes for those parts to be used in its EV production.
A subset of Rivian’s suppliers are expected to perform light assembly and manufacturing on site at the park, while the automaker’s own employees will kit and sequence the parts there before these parts are moved to the main plant. While developing the supplier park, Rivian announced that it will construct an underground tunnel between the park and its main plant to ensure efficient operations, while avoiding increased traffic on local roads.
The State of Illinois has been a strong partner as Rivian expands its production in Normal, IL. Here, Rivian highlighted that the State is supporting the supplier park with a incentives package designed to offset project start-up costs and certain infrastructure improvements, while also offering tax credits tied to the creation of good-paying jobs. The Town of Normal is offer similar support, making road improvements and helping to offset the cost of running utility infrastructure to the new supplier park site with future tax reimbursements.
At its main plant, Rivian currently builds all the EVs in its vehicle line-up, including the R1S SUV, R1T electric truck, Amazon Electric Delivery Van (EDV) and the Rivian Commercial Van. In addition to the 1.2 million square foot supplier park, the OEM confirmed that construction is underway for the 1.1 million square foot expansion of the plant necessary to enable R2 manufacturing, which it expects to begin in 2026.
