Rivian announced earlier this year that its new mid-size R2 electric SUV was set to go on sale this spring, but nature may have just thrown a wrench into those plans.
TechCrunch first reported that Rivian’s factory in Normal, Illinois, took a direct hit from a tornado this weekend, damaging part of the facility tied to one of the company’s upcoming vehicles.
Rivian confirmed to Gizmodo that a tornado struck and damaged what it calls Building 2, forcing the company to close the facility. Building 2 is where Rivian is producing its R2 vehicles.
Photos uploaded to a Rivian forum appear to show part of the facility’s ceiling collapsed. The town of Normal was struck by three EF-1 tornadoes (on an EF-0 to EF-5 intensity scale) on Friday night, with peak winds reaching between 90 and 100 miles per hour.
Fortunately, Rivian told Gizmodo that no one was injured and its staff is still assessing the extent of the damage. The tornado hit a newer part of the factory used for R2 logistics, like the delivery of parts.
“We anticipate resuming operations in Building 2 this week. Operations at other facilities continue as planned,” wrote Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe in a note to staff.
The timing isn’t ideal. The tornado comes just weeks before Rivian was expected to begin rolling out its more affordable R2 SUVs, a vehicle that is a crucial part of the company’s plan to become profitable.
The R2 was pitched as a more affordable alternative to Rivian’s R1S seven-seat electric SUV, which starts at $76,990.
The highly anticipated R2 is a five-seat, mid-size SUV. Rivian plans to initially launch a performance version of the vehicle this spring, with an estimated range of 330 miles and a starting price of $57,990.
A standard version isn’t expected until late 2027, starting at $48,490.
Rivian estimates it will sell between 20,000 and 25,000 R2s by the end of this year, TechCrunch reports.
The new vehicle is also part of Uber’s robotaxi ambitions. The two companies announced a partnership in March, with Uber agreeing to invest $1.25 billion in Rivian through 2031.
An initial $300 million has already been committed following the signing of the deal and pending regulatory approval. The remaining investments will depend on whether Rivian hits certain autonomous milestones.
Additionally, Uber or its fleet partners plan to purchase 10,000 R2 SUVs, with the option to buy up to 40,000 more vehicles starting in 2030.
Uber’s Rivian R2 fleet is expected to hit the streets of San Francisco and Miami in 2028, with plans to expand to as many as 25 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Europe by 2031.
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