Rivian secures massive Georgia land deal for new EV plant and R2 electric vehicles
Up-and-coming EV maker Rivian closed on a monumental land agreement last week for 1,800 acres to host its new mega site in Georgia. Construction can now begin on Rivian’s $5 billion facility, where its next-gen R2 electric vehicles will be made.
The Joint Development Authority (JDA) of Jasper, Morgan, Newton, and Walton Counties approved several resolutions last week to finalize the lease agreement and bonds to prepare for construction.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), Rivian will rent the site for 50 years to establish a 16 million-square-foot EV plant in Georgia.
The American manufacturer will establish 7,500 “good-paying jobs” in the region, the JDA and Georgia Department of Economic Development said in a joint statement.
Despite the $5 billion investment, not everyone was thrilled with the decision. Rivian first revealed plans for its massive $5 billion facility in Georgia in December 2021. Construction was initially stated to begin last summer, with production starting by 2024.
The plant was delayed due to legal battles over its $1.5 billion incentive package, a key piece of the agreement that includes tax breaks, grants, free land, and infrastructure.
Rivian’s incentive package is the second largest in the state, behind Hyundai’s $1.8 billion. Hyundai began construction on its $5.5 billion, 3,000-acre EV assembly and battery plant in Bryan County, Georgia, last October. The company said 99.99% of the foundation work was completed last month.
Rivian closes on massive land deal for Georgia EV plant
Bonds central to the Rivian facility were issued last week following the closing. Due to the legal battles, several adjustments were made to the agreement. For one, the JDA slightly lowered the number of acres it will lease from 2,000 to about 1,744 to build a frontage road and state training facility.
Rivian is expected to begin construction soon, with grading work progressing through the end of the year. According to company spokespeople, a groundbreaking ceremony will occur in early 2024.
According to the report, the site will employ 7,500 workers with an average salary of $56,000. The plant will begin producing Rivian’s smaller, cheaper R2 electric vehicles in 2026.
After crushing third-quarter earnings estimates, Rivian raised its production goal for the year to 54,000. Rivian delivered 15,564 vehicles between July and September, up 24% compared to last quarter.
The EV maker also produced 16,304 EVs at its Normal, Illinois factory in Q3, a 17% increase over Q2.
Once complete, Rivian’s Georgia plant is expected to be able to produce 400,000 EVs a year, compared to its Illinois facility, which is capped at 150,000.
Rivian announced it had hired Arnhelm Mittelbach as its first plant manager in Georgia earlier this month. Mittelbach joins Rivian from Mercedes with experience as the plant manager in East London and South Africa. He was also the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Vans in Charleston, SC.
Electrek’s Take
Despite the recent growth, Rivian issued a $1.75 billion green convertible note in October to create an additional cash buffer. CEO RJ Scaringe explained the move “further strengthens” its balance sheet as it approaches the beginning of construction in Georgia.
Scaringe added, “We’re well positioned as we look to start production of the R2 platform in 2026.”
The R2 “captures the essence of our brand,” but in “a smaller package and at a much lower price point,” according to Rivian’s CEO. Prices are expected to start at around $40K-$45K, compared to over $70K for the R1T and R1S.
Rivian is expected to reveal its first R2 model next year as it aims to expand the brand into new markets.
The EV startup continues exceeding expectations, outpacing rivals with its unique all-electric adventure vehicles. Rivian’s Normal, IL plant is now charging every new EV with 100% clean energy from solar and wind. It will be interesting to see what Rivian will do in Georgia.
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Electricity demand is surging in Texas, and solar, wind, and battery storage are meeting it.
According to new data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), electricity demand across the Texas grid managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) hit record highs in the first nine months of 2025. ERCOT, which supplies power to about 90% of the state, saw demand jump 5% year-over-year to 372 terawatt hours (TWh) – a 23% increase since 2021. No other major US grid has grown faster over the past year.
Solar and wind keep ERCOT’s grid steady
The biggest growth story in Texas power generation is solar. Utility-scale solar plants produced 45 TWh from January through September, up 50% from 2024 and nearly four times what they generated in 2021 (11 TWh). Wind power also continued to climb, producing 87 TWh through September – a 4% increase from last year and 36% more than in 2021.
Together, wind and solar supplied 36% of ERCOT’s total electricity over those nine months. Solar, in particular, has transformed Texas’s daytime energy mix. From June to September, ERCOT solar farms generated an average of 24 gigawatts (GW) between noon and 1 pm – double the midday output from 2023. That growth has pushed down natural gas use at midday from 50% of the mix in 2023 to 37% this year.
Battery storage is filling in the gaps
Batteries charge during the day when wind and solar generation are the highest, and they produce electricity when generation from wind and solar slows down. ERCOT began reporting battery output separately in October 2024 in its hourly grid data, and it’s clear that batteries are now helping to smooth out evening peaks. This past summer, batteries supplied an average of 4 GW of power around 8 pm, right as solar production dropped off.
Natural gas is flatlining
Natural gas is still Texas’s dominant power source, but it isn’t growing like it used to. Between January and September, gas-fired plants generated 158 TWh of electricity, compared to 161 TWh in 2023. Gas comprised 43% of ERCOT’s generation mix during the first nine months of 2025, down from 47% in the first nine months of 2023 and 2024.
More demand growth ahead
The EIA expects Texas electricity demand to keep rising faster than any other grid in the US. In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the EIA projects ERCOT’s demand will climb another 14% in the first nine months of 2026, reaching 425 TWh. That means Texas will need even more solar, wind, and battery storage to keep up with its breakneck growth.
Read more: This $900 million solar farm in Texas is going 100% to data centers
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GM is recalling nearly 23,000 Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models due to a defect where the tire tread could fall off.
GM is recalling more Chevy Equinox EV models
In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), GM said it has decided to issue a safety recall for certain Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models from model years 2025 to 2026.
This time, it isn’t necessarily GM’s fault. The vehicles may be equipped with 21″ all-season tires that Continental Tire is recalling.
According to Continental, the tires were produced during the week of October 6, 2024, and may have a defect where the tire tread could partially or fully detach. The records show the defect is due to a nonconforming tread base rubber compound.
Owners of affected vehicles may notice unusual tread wear or bulging, vibration while driving, or tire noises. GM is unaware of any incidents related to the defect, but is issuing the recall out of an abundance of caution.
On September 18, 2025, GM inspected the assembly plant and confirmed there were no suspect tires in stock. The 21″ tires come standard on RS trims and are optional on LT1 and LT2 grades.
Although GM is recalling 22,914 Chevy Equinox EVs and Cadillac Optiqs, it estimates that only about 1% of them have the defect.
The recall includes:
- 2026 Cadillac Optiq: 214
- 2026 Chevy Equinox EV: 1,832
- 2025 Cadillac Optiq: 3,468
- 2025 Chevy Equinox EV: 17,400
GM dealers will check all four tires and replace them if needed, free of charge. Dealers were notified on October 16. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out on December 1, 2025.
You can contact Chevrolet’s customer service number at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac’s at 1-800-333-4223. GM’s recall number is N252525030. Owners can also call the NHTSA hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the nhtsa.gov website for more information.
The Chevy Equinox EV is now the third best-selling EV in the US, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Meanwhile, Cadillac’s entry-level Optiq SUV is the fifth-most-popular luxury EV. The recall is minor and only affects a small percentage of models, so it’s not expected to have a major impact.
If you want to test one of them for yourself, we can help you get started. Check out our links below to find available Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models near you.
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss Tesla’s earnings madness, Rivian layoffs, Ford pausing F-150 Lightning, and more.
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