Rivian factory hit by tornado before R2 launch

Rivian’s factory in Normal, Illinois, was hit by a tornado over the weekend and sustained damage, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. Rivian said no one was injured and staff were still assessing the extent of the damage.

The tornado, which has an EF-1 strength rating, struck what Rivian calls “Building 2,” where the company manufactures its R2 SUV. Rivian has temporarily suspended in-building operations and plans to resume operations this week, according to an email sent by CEO RJ Scaringe to staff Sunday night, seen by TechCrunch.

“Thank you to the team members on the scene who sought safe shelter and followed emergency management procedures when the tornado warning sounded,” he wrote. “I am proud that we all came together to not only follow safety protocols, but to support each other and lead the cleanup and restoration efforts with great care and determination.”

Photos shared online show a large portion of the roof falling on the facility. The company did not say whether the temporary closure would affect the timing of R2’s release, which is expected in the coming weeks.

Rivian said the tornado primarily hit a new part of the factory used for R2 logistics, such as parts delivery.

“Once we are able to secure the affected areas, we plan to resume operations in Building 2 (particularly R2) this week,” spokeswoman Marina Hoffmann said in an email, adding that operations at other facilities will continue as scheduled.

Rivian is a big contributor to the launch. The company has invested time, resources and capital over the past five years to reduce manufacturing costs for its current R1 portfolio of vehicles. But Rivian still loses money every quarter. Scaringe said that’s largely because the company is currently investing in infrastructure, which will start to pay off once the R2 SUV reaches scale.

The R2 SUV is believed to help prevent Rivian losses. The company aims to sell hundreds of thousands of units a year and is hoping for a very strong start for the SUV. The company expects to sell 20,000 to 25,000 units by the end of this year. That would make it the fastest new electric vehicle to launch in the U.S. after Tesla’s hugely successful Model Y.

Production of the R2 will begin at the normal factory alongside existing R1 vehicles (and Rivian’s electric delivery vans), but the company is also preparing to build an entirely new factory outside of Atlanta, Georgia. This factory will be the production base for the R2 and the next hatchback R3, which the company surprisingly unveiled in March 2024.

Rivian broke ground on its Georgia factory late last year and plans to begin vertical construction this year. Production is scheduled to begin in 2028.