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https://www.bizjournals.com/milwauk...rst-wisconsin-ev-service-center-approved.html
Rivian wins approval for Milwaukee-area EV service center, its first in Wisconsin
Rivian Automotive Inc. gained Menomonee Falls approval for a first Wisconsin service center for its electric vehicles used locally by Amazon.com Inc. and individuals.
The Irvine, California-based electric vehicle manufacturer could start those operations in Menomonee Falls this year. The company is considering an up to 10-year lease for space at N59 W13500 Manhardt Drive in Menomonee Falls.
It would be a pick-up point for consumers buying Rivian cars online or out-of-state. It also would serve as home base for Rivian service vehicles that would drive out to fix electric delivery trucks the company manufactures for Amazon.com. Rivian’s cars in Wisconsin are currently serviced by company fleets that drive to customers’ location from facilities located out-of-state.
The Menomonee Falls Village Board on Monday voted 5-2 to approve a rezoning for Rivian’s facility. That came after a lengthy discussion that included an attempt by Menomonee Falls Trustee Steve Taggart to make Rivian buy special equipment for the village’s fire department to use in response to emergencies involving electric vehicles catching fire while on village streets.
Village staff members warned the board could not force Rivian to buy equipment for the Menomonee Falls fire department in order to gain zoning approval for the service center. Village manager Mark Fitzgerald said the possibility of emergency response equipment could be discussed separately with Rivian.
“We will look into that,” he said. “I think, tonight, that is as far as we can take it.”
The Rivian center would create 35 full-time and 15 part-time jobs, and represents a $1.6 million investment in new equipment and other technology for the Manhardt Drive building. Rivian would use 21,617 square feet of the industrial building under a five-year lease, with an option to renew for an additional five years, said Mike Herbrand, attorney who spoke on behalf of the building’s owner during Monday’s Village Board meeting.
Rivian last year attempted to gain approval for this service center, and was rejected by the Village Board. Since that time, company representatives have held an open house at the Manhardt Drive building, and went door-to-door to meet with surrounding homeowners. This second time around, Rivian also sought a more limited approval allowing only servicing of electric vehicles, not gas-fueled cars.
Herbrand said that language means a repair shop for gas-fueled cars would need city approval to use the building if Rivian were to eventually move out.
“You’re not opening the proverbial barn door allowing every automotive use of any kind into this site,” Herbrand said. “We’re hoping to mitigate some of the concerns you might have had in the first round.”
Since it started manufacturing electric vehicles in 2021, Rivian has produced 82,584 EVs in the U.S. and delivered 71,374 to customers, the firm told the Milwaukee Business Journal in January.
Rivian wins approval for Milwaukee-area EV service center, its first in Wisconsin
Rivian Automotive Inc. gained Menomonee Falls approval for a first Wisconsin service center for its electric vehicles used locally by Amazon.com Inc. and individuals.
The Irvine, California-based electric vehicle manufacturer could start those operations in Menomonee Falls this year. The company is considering an up to 10-year lease for space at N59 W13500 Manhardt Drive in Menomonee Falls.
It would be a pick-up point for consumers buying Rivian cars online or out-of-state. It also would serve as home base for Rivian service vehicles that would drive out to fix electric delivery trucks the company manufactures for Amazon.com. Rivian’s cars in Wisconsin are currently serviced by company fleets that drive to customers’ location from facilities located out-of-state.
The Menomonee Falls Village Board on Monday voted 5-2 to approve a rezoning for Rivian’s facility. That came after a lengthy discussion that included an attempt by Menomonee Falls Trustee Steve Taggart to make Rivian buy special equipment for the village’s fire department to use in response to emergencies involving electric vehicles catching fire while on village streets.
Village staff members warned the board could not force Rivian to buy equipment for the Menomonee Falls fire department in order to gain zoning approval for the service center. Village manager Mark Fitzgerald said the possibility of emergency response equipment could be discussed separately with Rivian.
“We will look into that,” he said. “I think, tonight, that is as far as we can take it.”
The Rivian center would create 35 full-time and 15 part-time jobs, and represents a $1.6 million investment in new equipment and other technology for the Manhardt Drive building. Rivian would use 21,617 square feet of the industrial building under a five-year lease, with an option to renew for an additional five years, said Mike Herbrand, attorney who spoke on behalf of the building’s owner during Monday’s Village Board meeting.
Rivian last year attempted to gain approval for this service center, and was rejected by the Village Board. Since that time, company representatives have held an open house at the Manhardt Drive building, and went door-to-door to meet with surrounding homeowners. This second time around, Rivian also sought a more limited approval allowing only servicing of electric vehicles, not gas-fueled cars.
Herbrand said that language means a repair shop for gas-fueled cars would need city approval to use the building if Rivian were to eventually move out.
“You’re not opening the proverbial barn door allowing every automotive use of any kind into this site,” Herbrand said. “We’re hoping to mitigate some of the concerns you might have had in the first round.”
Since it started manufacturing electric vehicles in 2021, Rivian has produced 82,584 EVs in the U.S. and delivered 71,374 to customers, the firm told the Milwaukee Business Journal in January.
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