Rivian’s factory was hit by a hurricane before the R2 was launched

The company confirmed to TechCrunch that a Rivian factory in Normal, Illinois, was directly damaged by a tornado and sustained damage over the weekend. No one was injured, according to Rivian, and employees are still assessing the extent of the damage.

The tornado, which had an EF-1 intensity rating, struck what Rivian refers to as “Building 2,” where the company makes its R2 SUV. Rivian has temporarily halted operations at the building and expects to begin again sometime this week, according to an email, seen by TechCrunch, that CEO RJ Scaringe sent to employees Sunday night.

“Thank you to our on-site team members who sought safe shelter and followed our emergency management protocols when tornado warnings went off,” he wrote. “I am proud of the way everyone has come together, not only to follow safety protocols, but to support each other and lead the cleanup and repair efforts with such interest and determination.”

Shared photos connected It was found that a large portion of the ceiling had fallen inside the facility. The company did not say whether the temporary closure would affect the timing of the R2 rollout, which is supposed to happen in the coming weeks.

The tornado struck a newer part of the plant, used primarily for R2 logistics such as parts delivery, according to Rivian.

“Once the affected area is secured, we expect to resume operations in Building 2 (specifically Building R2) this week,” Marina Hoffman, a spokeswoman for the building, said in an email, adding that operations at other facilities are continuing as planned.

Rivian has a lot riding on launch. The company has invested time, resources and capital over the past five years to reduce the cost of manufacturing vehicles in its existing R1 portfolio. But Rivian is still losing money every quarter, largely because, according to Scaringe, the company is now investing in infrastructure that will start to pay off when the R2 SUV reaches mass scale.

The R2 SUV should help Rivian stop losing money. The automaker hopes to sell hundreds of thousands of them annually, and is counting on a very hot start for the SUV. The company estimated it would sell between 20,000 and 25,000 of them by the end of this year. This would make it so One of the fastest launches The US’s new-ever electric car, the successor to 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 truck), though the company is preparing to build a brand-new factory outside of Atlanta, Georgia as well. This plant will be home to production of the upcoming R2 and R3 hatchbacks, which are produced by the company A surprise reveal in March 2024.

Rivian starts operating in Georgia The factory late last year It is supposed to Vertical construction begins this year. Production is expected to begin in 2028.