{"id":3489430,"date":"2026-04-20T13:47:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T13:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/20\/rivians-plant-struck-by-tornado-prior-to-r2-rollout\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T13:47:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T13:47:51","slug":"rivians-plant-struck-by-tornado-prior-to-r2-rollout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/20\/rivians-plant-struck-by-tornado-prior-to-r2-rollout\/","title":{"rendered":"Rivian&#8217;s plant struck by tornado prior to R2 rollout"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rivians-plant-struck-by-tornado-prior-to-r2-rollout.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"speakable-summary\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rivian has confirmed to TechCrunch that its factory located in Normal, Illinois experienced direct damage from a tornado over the weekend. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, and staff members are currently evaluating the damage&#8217;s extent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tornado reached an EF-1 intensity classification, impacting a section of the factory known by Rivian as \u201cBuilding 2,\u201d where the R2 SUV is manufactured. According to an email from CEO RJ Scaringe to staff, which TechCrunch has seen, operations in that building have been paused, with plans to resume later this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI appreciate our team members on site who sought safe shelter and adhered to our emergency protocols when the tornado alarms were triggered,\u201d he mentioned. \u201cI am proud of how everyone united, not only in following safety protocols but also in supporting each other and leading the cleanup and repair efforts with care and commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Images posted online depict a significant portion of the roof collapsing within the facility. Rivian has not confirmed if this temporary operational halt will impact the R2&#8217;s rollout schedule, which is expected to occur in the upcoming weeks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tornado struck a newer segment of the factory, mainly utilized for R2 logistics, including the receipt of components, as per Rivian.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOnce we secure the affected area, we expect to resume operations in Building 2 (specifically for R2) this week,\u201d spokesperson Marina Hoffmann stated in an email, noting that activities at other facilities are proceeding as scheduled.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rivian is heavily invested in the launch. Over the past five years, the company has devoted time, resources, and capital to lower manufacturing costs for vehicles in its current R1 lineup. Nonetheless, Rivian continues to incur losses each quarter \u2014 largely because, according to Scaringe, the company is channeling resources into infrastructure that will yield returns once the R2 SUV scales up.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-techcrunch-inline-cta\">\n<div class=\"inline-cta__wrapper\">\n<p>Techcrunch event<\/p>\n<div class=\"inline-cta__content\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__location\">San Francisco, CA<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__separator\">|<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__date\">October 13-15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The R2 SUV is designed to help Rivian reverse its financial losses. The automaker anticipates selling hundreds of thousands annually, aiming for a robust initial launch for the SUV. The company projects year-end sales between 20,000 and 25,000 units, positioning it as one of the fastest EV launches in the U.S., closely trailing Tesla\u2019s highly successful Model Y.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Production for the R2 is commencing at the Normal plant alongside the existing R1 vehicles (and Rivian\u2019s electric delivery van), while preparations are underway for the construction of a new factory just outside Atlanta, Georgia. This facility will focus on producing the R2 and the upcoming R3 hatchback, which was unexpectedly unveiled in March 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rivian initiated groundwork for the Georgia factory late last year and is anticipated to begin vertical construction within this year. Production is projected to start in 2028.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rivians-plant-struck-by-tornado-prior-to-r2-rollout.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"speakable-summary\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rivian has confirmed to TechCrunch that its factory located in Normal, Illinois experienced direct damage from a tornado over the weekend. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, and staff members are currently evaluating the damage&#8217;s extent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tornado reached an EF-1 intensity classification, impacting a section of the factory known by Rivian as \u201cBuilding 2,\u201d where the R2 SUV is manufactured. According to an email from CEO RJ Scaringe to staff, which TechCrunch has seen, operations in that building have been paused, with plans to resume later this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI appreciate our team members on site who sought safe shelter and adhered to our emergency protocols when the tornado alarms were triggered,\u201d he mentioned. \u201cI am proud of how everyone united, not only in following safety protocols but also in supporting each other and leading the cleanup and repair efforts with care and commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Images posted online depict a significant portion of the roof collapsing within the facility. Rivian has not confirmed if this temporary operational halt will impact the R2&#8217;s rollout schedule, which is expected to occur in the upcoming weeks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tornado struck a newer segment of the factory, mainly utilized for R2 logistics, including the receipt of components, as per Rivian.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOnce we secure the affected area, we expect to resume operations in Building 2 (specifically for R2) this week,\u201d spokesperson Marina Hoffmann stated in an email, noting that activities at other facilities are proceeding as scheduled.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rivian is heavily invested in the launch. Over the past five years, the company has devoted time, resources, and capital to lower manufacturing costs for vehicles in its current R1 lineup. Nonetheless, Rivian continues to incur losses each quarter \u2014 largely because, according to Scaringe, the company is channeling resources into infrastructure that will yield returns once the R2 SUV scales up.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-techcrunch-inline-cta\">\n<div class=\"inline-cta__wrapper\">\n<p>Techcrunch event<\/p>\n<div class=\"inline-cta__content\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__location\">San Francisco, CA<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__separator\">|<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__date\">October 13-15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The R2 SUV is designed to help Rivian reverse its financial losses. The automaker anticipates selling hundreds of thousands annually, aiming for a robust initial launch for the SUV. The company projects year-end sales between 20,000 and 25,000 units, positioning it as one of the fastest EV launches in the U.S., closely trailing Tesla\u2019s highly successful Model Y.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Production for the R2 is commencing at the Normal plant alongside the existing R1 vehicles (and Rivian\u2019s electric delivery van), while preparations are underway for the construction of a new factory just outside Atlanta, Georgia. This facility will focus on producing the R2 and the upcoming R3 hatchback, which was unexpectedly unveiled in March 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rivian initiated groundwork for the Georgia factory late last year and is anticipated to begin vertical construction within this year. Production is projected to start in 2028.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3489431,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3489430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3489430"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3489430"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3489430\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3489431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3489430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3489430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3489430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}