Rivian (RIVN) finds a partner to build its massive $5B mega-EV plant, paving the way for R2
Rivian (RIVN) is taking another big step toward opening its second manufacturing facility. The EV startup revealed it had chosen Clayco as its partner to build the massive $5 billion EV plant.
Rivian taps Clayco as partner to build Georgia EV plant
Clayco, one of the largest full-service design, engineering, and construction firms in the US, announced the news Tuesday.
Rivian currently builds electric vehicles, including the R1T and R1S, at its Normal, IL, plant. With plans to expand, Rivian first announced plans for a second EV plant in Bryan County, GA, in 2021.
Contruction was expected to begin last summer, but legal battles tied to its $1.5 billion incentive package led to delays. The incentive package is the second largest in the state behind Hyundai’s $1.8 billion.
After scoring a massive land agreement last month, Rivian was given the green light to start construction.
Rivian said it would start construction soon as grading work finished up through the end of the year. A company spokesperson said the EV startup would hold an official groundbreaking ceremony in early 2024.
With Clayco as its partner, Rivian is ready to begin building its second EV plant. The 1,800-acre complex will be home to Rivian’s R2 vehicles.
Rivian to build cheaper R2 EVs in Georgia
Rivian’s next-gen EVs will be cheaper than its current models. CEO RJ Scaringe said R2 will start at around $40K to $45K. The new model is expected to be unveiled next year.
The R2 will be “a very, very different vehicle architecture” than the R1 but will “still be very much a Rivian,” according to Scaringe.
Production is expected to begin next year. Once the first stage is complete, the plant is expected to be able to build 200,000 vehicles a year. By the end of the decade, Rivian aims to double it.
Rivian revealed it had hired Arnhelm Mittelbach as plant manager for the new GA facility last month.
Mittelbach joins Rivian with over 20 years of experience at Mercedes-Benz, including managing plants in East London and South Africa. He was also president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Vans in Charleston, SC.
Rivian’s new partner, Clayco, has been selected for several EV projects, including VinFast’s new plant in North Carolina.
Electrek’s Take
Rivian continues expanding, pushing past many rival EV startups. The company beat expectations again, delivering over 15,500 EVs in the third quarter, up 24% from Q2.
After strong results, Rivian raised its 2023 production goal to 54,000. That’s 2,000 higher than its last guidance.
Rivian expects R2 to attract new buyers with a lower starting price. The current Rivian R1S and R1T both start at over $70K. A more affordable model will help expand the brand as new competition hits the market.
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On today’s sunny side up episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at the latest from the world of solar power, and discuss Congressional Republicans’ plans to limit your energy independence by eliminating a critical tax credit for homeowners nearly ten years early. (!)
We’ve also got a quick review of a massive solar farm powering 200,000 homes in Indiana and the biggest solar project East of the Mississippi – both part of a record 98% of all new power generation and grid capacity introduced in 2025 coming from wind and solar. Those are jobs, those are lower utility rates, those are energy independence … so why are Congressional Republicans working to make that more expensive?
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If you want to read that EnergySage report on the state of the home solar industry, including news about battery energy storage system and V2H/V2G prices and financing trends, you can check it out for yourself, below, then let us know what you think in the comments.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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A Waymo autonomous vehicle drives along Masonic Avenue on April 11, 2022 in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Alphabet’s Waymo unit has received approval to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service to more parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose.
In March, the company submitted a request to the California Public Utilities Commission to gain approval for its latest passenger safety plan, a key step in gaining permission to operate driverless vehicles across a broader area. On Monday, the proposed expansion was approved, allowing for Waymo’s driverless coverage to extend from San Francisco down through the Peninsula.
“We’re very excited to share that the CPUC has approved our application to operate our fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in the South Bay and nearly all of San Jose!” the company wrote in a post on X on Monday. “While this won’t change our operations in the near-term, we’re looking forward to bringing the benefits of Waymo One to more of the Bay Area in the future.”
The $5 billion Empire Wind is back in business. The Trump administration’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has lifted its stop-work order for Empire Wind, a major offshore wind project off the coast of New York led by Empire Offshore Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Equinor. Construction is now allowed to resume.
Equinor CEO Anders Opedal welcomed the news, saying the restart reinforces Equinor’s commitment to delivering clean energy while supporting local economies and saving thousands of jobs. He also credited a wide coalition of officials for helping get the project back on track, including Trump, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and congressional leaders like Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Dan Goldman. Opedal also thanked the Norwegian prime minister and the minister of finance for raising the issue with the US administration.
Governor Hochul said in a statement that “countless conversations with Equinor and White House officials” had taken place.
Neither the BOEM nor the Department of the Interior has issued a comment.
The Trump administration halted construction of the 54-turbine Empire Wind on April 16, but discussions between Equinor, regulators, and leaders at the federal, state, and city levels led to a reversal. That means Empire Wind can now push ahead with its goal of powering 500,000 New York homes with offshore wind energy.
“This project delivers on the energy ambitions shared by the US and New York by providing a vital new source of power to the region,” said Molly Morris, president of Equinor Wind US. She added that Empire Wind is boosting supply chain investments across the country, with activity in New York, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, and South Carolina.
Equinor plans to reassess the project’s financials in the second quarter. The goal is still to install turbines offshore in 2025 and hit full commercial operation by 2027. The company says it will work with suppliers and regulators to minimize any delays from the month-long pause.
Empire Wind was first awarded its offshore lease in 2017 after a competitive federal process. It received its final construction green light in early 2024 following an extensive environmental review. Construction kicked off shortly after, and the project is now over 30% complete.
The US is a major market for Equinor. The Norwegian energy giant says it has invested around $60 billion in US energy projects since the early 2000s, more recently in low-carbon solutions, critical minerals, and renewables. Empire Wind is one of its flagship projects in the US.
Read more: Trump admin halts $5 billion NY offshore wind project mid-build
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
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