Auto seat supplier opening $8 million Normal facility near Rivian's EV plant
Adient, a leading global manufacturer of auto seats, is investing more than $8 million to repurpose an existing 85,000 square-foot-warehouse adjacent to the Rivian plant to make front and rear seats for the EVs.
The Plymouth, Michigan-based company plans to create at least 75 new jobs within four years at the plant to qualify for a state tax credit, with an estimated value of about $4 million.
'Adient's new facility in Normal is a critical investment in our state's growing EV ecosystem and supply chain,' Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news release Monday. 'With yet another global company choosing to locate in Illinois, we're creating more jobs, opportunities and bolstering economic development for the people of Illinois.'
Beyond proximity to Rivian's plant, Adient was incentivized to build its first Illinois facility through the state's Reimagining Energy and Vehicles In Illinois (REV Illinois). The 2021 legislation offers up to a 75% credit on state income tax for EV manufacturers for meeting agreed upon investment and job creation targets.
In May, Rivian announced it is building a separate $120 million supplier park near its Normal plant to support increased production. The 1.2 million-square-foot supplier park is expected to add an additional 100 jobs to the expanding production operation of the California-based EV automaker, which manufactures its entire fleet in the college town about 130 miles south of Chicago.
Construction on the supplier park is under way and expected to be completed in 2026, in time for the rollout of the much-anticipated R2. Adient will not be in the new supplier park.
'Having suppliers like Adient located near our plant in Normal will be a key enabler when we increase production next year to build R2,' Carlo Materazzo, Rivian's vice president of manufacturing operations, said in the news release. 'Integrating suppliers on site reduces costs and improves manufacturing efficiency.'
Rivian began building its full-size electric R1T pickup truck, R1S SUV and commercial delivery vans in a former Mitsubishi auto plant on the outskirts of Normal in September 2021. In March 2024, Rivian revealed that the R2 will also be made in Illinois, putting plans to build a $5 billion Georgia plant on hold.
Down the road, Georgia is still integral to Rivian plans, however.
'Since announcing the pause in construction of our Georgia site, we've continued development activities necessary for a rapid transition to vertical construction in 2026, ahead of the start of production in 2028,' a Rivian spokesperson said in a statement Monday.
In addition, Rivian announced last week it plans to open an East Coast headquarters in Atlanta later this year, with office expansion slated for 2026 as construction at the new Georgia manufacturing site accelerates.
Backed by $827 million in state incentives, Rivian is also expanding its 4.3 million-square-foot auto plant in Normal by an additional 1.1 million square feet and creating more than 550 assembly jobs over five years to build the midsize R2 SUV, which is expected to begin rolling off the production line in 2026.
Rivian is seeking to lure new buyers at price points well below its first-generation SUV and truck, which cost upward of $80,000. The R2 will be priced starting at $45,000.
The Normal plant had about 7,000 assembly workers in April 2024, when it streamlined operations and went from three to two shifts. Rivian had 14,861 employees across North America and Europe at the end of 2024, but declined Monday to update the current number of employees in Normal.
Last year, Rivian produced 49,476 and delivered 51,579 EVs from its Normal plant, with slightly lower production guidance at 40,000 to 46,000 vehicles for 2025.
During the second quarter, Rivian built 5,979 vehicles at its Normal plant and delivered 10,661, with production limited by retooling in preparation for the rollout of 2026 model year vehicles, which are expected to launch later this month, the automaker said.
Meanwhile, customers looking to buy an EV may be motivated to take the plunge this summer by President Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which was signed into law July 4. The bill eliminates the $7,500 federal tax credit on new EVs and $4,000 on used EVs as of Sept. 30.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com
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To this end, THEON is announcing four major investments / strategic cooperations in the United States and Europe, marking a significant milestone in its journey to continue being a global leader in man-portable electro-optics. These transactions reinforce THEON's commitment to innovation, supply chain security, and transatlantic cooperation in defense technologies. Following the establishment of a leading position in night vision systems, THEON has successfully expanded into thermal and digital solutions with its new A.R.M.E.D. product family. Similarly to the approach adopted for traditional Night Vision systems, favoring vertical integration and long-term supply agreements, THEON is now proactively stepping further into the rapidly growing Digital and AR domain, which relies on three critical technologies: Augmented and Virtual Reality Software – the foundation of next-generation soldier systems, enabling immersive situational awareness, enhanced decision- making, and digital overlays in real-world environments. Micro-displays – essential for next generation visual augmentation systems, with a strategic focus on developing a US-European microLED technology. Near-Range Wireless Connectivity – enabling seamless, cable-free integration of soldier gear with real-time data transmission. 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The whole investment in KOPIN of $15 million, is geared towards the co-development of products and reflects the belief by THEON, that the already extensive R&D investments that KOPIN has undertaken have established the necessary foundation, for a cooperation that can promptly translate into cost efficient, AR-enabled products. This strategic partnership will also see THEON US subsidiary (T-Industries) moving their relevant industrial and product development operations at KOPIN's facility in Reston, VA, which shall become the US manufacturing hub for THEON's AR-enabled and future digital electro-optic products. As part of T-Industries' normal course of business, THEON, over the next five years, will be investing $8 million to support its US operations, as well as the new KOPIN -THEON co-development efforts. This new cooperation will not affect THEON's two existing partnerships in the night vision domain. Secondly, THEON has signed a renewable minimum two-year supply agreement with eMagin, a US-based manufacturer of OLED micro-displays and virtual imaging technologies. eMagin specializes in high-resolution displays for military aviation, night vision, AR/VR, and other near-eye imaging applications. eMagin is a strategic supplier to THEON, providing most OLED displays used in THEON's products, including A.R.M.E.D. products, including foremost IRIS-C. Thirdly, THEON has entered into a strategic partnership with ALEREON, a U.S.-based leader in Ultra-Wide-Band (UWB) wireless technology. ALEREON provides battle- proven UWB solutions that form the established Intra-Soldier communication protocol for the U.S. Army, enabling secure, jam-resistant communication between devices such as between THEON's THERMIS, THEA, IRIS-C, and ORION. Unlike conventional protocols like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, ALEREON's UWB technology delivers unparalleled security, low latency, and resilience in battlefield conditions. Through this partnership, THEON will fully integrate UWB into its A.R.M.E.D. product line, produce it in Greece and will promote this unique solution in Europe and the Middle East as ALEREON's primary partner in the regions. Lastly, THEON announces a strategic minority investment in Varjo Technologies Oy (VARJO), a Finnish deep-tech company specializing in Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) headsets and applications, deepening THEON's reach into the European innovation ecosystem. VARJO was founded in 2016 and supplies the most relevant aerospace and defense companies globally, delivering advanced military-grade VR/MR technology for training and simulation. The strategic collaboration between THEON and VARJO will combine THEON's technological know-how with VARJO'S advanced virtual and mixed reality hardware and software , with the companies having agreed to collaborate closely on multiple product and business initiatives. The agreement envisages an investment in VARJO via a €5 million convertible loan, structured to be converted into VARJO share capital upon the occurrence of defined events. THEON also holds an option to invest an additional €5 million under the same terms. This investment will support VARJO'S continued development of immersive technologies and reinforce THEON's digital expansion strategy under the THEON NEXT initiative, particularly on the development of high-tech products for defense applications. Christian Hadjiminas, CEO of THEON, stated: 'Following the recent significant KAPPA acquisition, THEON has managed to sign such pioneering agreements, ensuring it retains its leading position in man-portable electro-optics. 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Dimitrios Mandridis, CTO of Theon Sensors stated: 'THEON has managed to establish an advanced global technical cooperation framework combining all key technologies of the new inter-connected AR-capable-soldier era, as can be seen by the introduction of THEON's A.R.M.E.D. product line and its ever-growing adoption by modern armies. Every piece of this cooperation ensures that THEON will be at the forefront of new developments in the digital and AR technology space which further evolve THEON's A.R.M.E.D. product line for the benefit of our final customers. THEON's R&D department has been expanded and restructured to enable the integration of all these partnerships.' Dimitris Parthenis, CFO of THEON, stated: 'Obtaining key technologies—especially when these relate to large companies also operating in the civil sector—through such agreements represents a flexible and financially efficient investment and rapid outcome for all our stakeholders. THEON's option to convert such development funds into equity positions would positively affect its future financial results. The current investment, totaling €25 million over two to five years, is expected to be paid back quickly, through enhancing the features and the price positioning of our current offer and also via the future growth of these companies that have some of the most promising civil and defense technologies. We are proud to be looking to the future with these compelling partners who share our leading entrepreneurial spirit.' Michael Murray, CEO of KOPIN, stated: 'With defense investments accelerating globally, especially among European NATO allies, strategic partnerships have become critical to delivering next-generation, mission-ready technologies. We are proud to collaborate with THEON in a partnership that exemplifies innovation, agility, and shared purpose. By integrating KOPIN's cutting-edge micro-displays and application-specific optical subassemblies with Theon's advanced expertise in night vision, thermal imaging, and Electro-Optical ISR systems, we are not only meeting the evolving demands of modern defense operations, but we are also actively shaping the future of battlefield awareness and operational effectiveness.' Amal Ghosh, CEO of eMagin stated: 'We are excited to partner with Theon, a leader in advanced optics and imaging systems, to integrate eMagin's state-of-the-art OLED microdisplay technology into their next generation of products. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to delivering unmatched image quality, performance, and reliability for mission-critical applications. By combining eMagin's innovation in microdisplays with Theon's expertise in precision optics, we are poised to create solutions that set a new standard in the field and deliver exceptional value to customers worldwide.' David Shoemaker, CEO of ALEREON, stated: 'We're excited to partner with THEON and be part of this forward-looking initiative. THEON'S proven expertise in electro-optics and extensive international business development network make them an ideal ally in expanding the reach and implementation of ALEREON's UWB technology. With THEON as our key partner in Europe and the Middle East, we look forward to bringing our battle- proven communication solutions into the hands of many more allied soldiers.' Timo Toikkanen, CEO of VARJO, added: 'We are proud to welcome THEON as a strategic investor in VARJO. Since our inception, VARJO has been creating the most advanced VR/XR military systems globally. THEON's extensive experience and leadership in the defense sector make them an ideal partner as we expand our impact in mission-critical training and simulation, enabling unprecedented levels of realism, readiness, and operational effectiveness.' For inquiries, please contact: Investor RelationsNikos Malesiotis E-Mail: [email protected] Tel: +30 210 6772290
