Rivian’s facility in Normal, Illinois, experienced damage from a tornado over the weekend, with no injuries reported. The company confirmed that their “Building 2,” where the R2 SUV is produced, was hit by an EF-1 tornado, causing a temporary halt in operations. CEO RJ Scaringe praised staff for following safety protocols and aiding in cleanup efforts. Images online showed significant damage to the plant’s roof. Rivian is working to resume operations this week, stating that the shutdown’s impact on the R2’s launch timeline is currently unclear. The tornado affected a new part of the plant used for R2 logistics. Rivian has high expectations for the R2 launch to improve financial performance, predicting sales between 20,000 and 25,000 by year-end. Operations at the Normal plant include the R1 vehicles and an electric delivery van, with plans to build a new factory in Georgia for the R2 and the future R3 hatchback. Construction in Georgia is set to start this year, with production beginning in 2028.
Tornado Strikes Rivian Factory Before R2 Launch
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