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Rivian expects to ramp Normal, Illinois plant to 4,000 vehicles per week for R2 production—single-shift currently, targeting two-shift by end of 2026
RJ Scaringe· Rivian· Robotics· 2026-05-01· about Rivian (RIVN)
“By building R2 in Normal, we are strategically leveraging our existing manufacturing footprint in Illinois to drive greater fixed cost absorption across our entire vehicle portfolio. As discussed previously, R2 production is starting with a single-shift operation; we expect to scale to two shifts by 2026 as we ramp towards our North Star target of profitably delivering 4 thousand vehicles per week in Normal.”
Why it matters
The 4,000 units/week target at Normal implies ~200k annual units from single facility. Two-shift ramp indicates labor force expansion and supply chain velocity requirements.
Investment implication
Production line automation vendors, conveyor/assembly equipment OEMs, and skilled labor training programs in Illinois region face demand acceleration. Logistics providers serving Normal plant (parts inbound, finished vehicle outbound) require capacity expansion. Employee training companies and staffing firms benefit from hiring surge.