Latest news with #CarloMaterazzo
Chicago Tribune
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Auto seat supplier opening $8 million Normal facility near Rivian's EV plant
As Rivian gears up to build the new midsize R2 SUV next year, the EV automaker is also building up its supply chain near its Normal plant to assist increased production. 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@
CBS News
12-02-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Rivian takes the EV forward in Normal, Illinois, appears at Chicago Auto Show for first time
NORMAL, Ill. (CBS) -- The stadium-shaped headlights on Rivian electric vehicles makes them easy to spot on the road, and this year, visitors spotted them for the first time at the Chicago Auto Show. Meanwhile, the Rivian manufacturing plant in downstate Normal, Illinois, is getting ready to roll out two new models. The plant is so huge that the rules of the road apply inside. Rivian vice president of logistics Carlo Materazzo calls the plant "the most amazing factory in the world." Rivian makes all its electric vehicles at the plant in Normal — including the R1T pickup truck, the R1S full-size sport-utility vehicle, and a commercial van used by Amazon. The EVs are built from the battery up. At Rivian's manufacturing plant, a new vehicle rolls off the line every three minutes. A lot of hands are involved in the process — both human and robotic — working together to build EVs that Rivian hopes will light up people's adventurous spirit. "We spent a lot of time thinking about, what should a Rivian look like?" said Rivian chief executive officer RJ Scaringe. "If you look at R1T, R1S, they're vehicles that really enable and inspire you to go do the kinds of things you want to take photographs of." Scaringe grew up with car parts in his room — which explains why he feels at home on a factory floor. "This is like my happy place, I would say. I love to be here," he said. "I love to see the teams working so hard to continue making improvements, driving costs down, improving quality." Last year, Rivian built about 50,000 vehicles at the Normal plant. Now, the factory footprint is growing — as Rivian plans to launch its R2 in the first half of 2026. The R2 is a more affordable mid-size sport-utility vehicle that can now be seen at the Chicago Auto Show. Also on display at the Auto Show is a souped-up version of the R3, coming in 2027. In its first trip to the Auto Show, Rivian joins a crowded field of EVs. "Today, we're less than 10% of new vehicle sales are electric, so the real competition is building products that appeal to people to get them to make the switch from an internal combustion engine vehicle to an electric vehicle," said Scaringe. At least in Normal, electric is the norm.
