Rivian R2 Factory Hit by Tornado—Are Deliveries at Risk?

Rivian is close to starting deliveries of its cheapest EV yet, the long-awaited R2. But the company’s factory in Normal, Illinois, was hit by an EF1 tornado this past weekend, which may hamper efforts to get the SUV to customers on time. While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, a message sent to employees by Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe expressed relief that nobody was injured. The incident occurs at a sensitive time for the EV company, which hopes to dramatically increase sales with the arrival of its Tesla Model Y competitor.Related: Rivian’s Cheapest Model: Everything We Know About The R2Photos Confirm Substantial Damage

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