Rivian has officially broken ground on its long-planned factory near Atlanta, Georgia. This future plant will eventually allow the company to manufacture up to 400,000 of its next-generation electric vehicles per year.
A ceremonial shovel event took place on Tuesday, with CEO RJ Scaringe joined by Georgia officials, including Governor Brian Kemp. However, the official construction start date is still planned for the first quarter of 2026, with vehicle production scheduled to begin in 2028. The current work involves essential preparation, such as connecting electrical systems and water supplies and building access roads.
Rivian projects the factory will create 7,500 permanent jobs and 2,000 construction jobs during the building phase. As of June 30, the company had already created 47 full-time positions and invested approximately $80 million in the project. An outside analysis also suggests the facility will generate an additional nearly 8,000 indirect jobs with local suppliers and vendors. Rivian has reportedly been asking its existing suppliers if they would establish operations near the new Georgia location.
This groundbreaking event marks a significant milestone for a project that has faced considerable uncertainty over the past few years. Rivian first announced its plans to build the Georgia factory shortly after its IPO in 2021. At that time, the company was constrained by the size of its refurbished Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois, where it produces the R1T truck, R1S SUV, and commercial vans. A larger facility was needed for growth.
The company initially promised a $5 billion investment and aimed to start construction in 2022. However, local opposition and pandemic-related supply chain challenges forced Rivian to delay the Georgia project. In March 2024, the company instead prioritized expanding its Illinois factory to ensure the timely production of its more affordable next-generation R2 SUV.
Rivian refocused on the Georgia plans in late 2024 when it announced it was close to securing a $6.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy to help fund construction. That loan agreement was finalized in the final days of the Biden administration, though the funds will only be distributed once Rivian meets specific milestones.
In the weeks before Donald Trump’s second term, some of the incoming administration’s allies suggested the factory could be targeted, with one figure even proposing the loan might be clawed back. Despite this, the loan has remained intact. Rivian has since worked closely with the Georgia governor’s office to restart operations. The company has ambitious plans for the new factory, with CEO Scaringe stating he hopes it will build vehicles for the global market by 2028.