Rivian to cut 1 of 3 shifts for R1 production at Normal plant, starting next month

[jbssfelix]

I must be missing something. I don't see how you can take one shift and make a completely different vehicle, then switch back to another for the other two shifts.

It's possible in automotive manufacturing, but highly unlikely with the R1/R2. They don't share the same architecture or chassis, so building the line to accommodate both would be stupidly expensive.

If they wanted to build the R2 at Normal, they'd likely take one of the lines down and retool it solely for the R2 (gasp...I wonder if that's what they're doing this summer lol jk). I believe there are three lines total...they could have one for each product. However, that approach also means reducing efficiency, as now you can only build to the max throughput of a single line, so if R2 is still in pilot mode, it would likely sit idle a lot.

My guess is the R2 will likely be "coachbuilt" until GA, and all line builds, pre-prod and prod, will happen there. That or Rivian will build a separate mini line for the R2 at Normal and builds will be a hybrid of a full assembly vs handbuilt until GA spins up.

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[HaveBlue]

Something is seriously amiss in GA. Here's video from March and nothing is going on. They've hit a brick wall for months now and it's not good. If development is stopped at clear/grub/grading, then they've had approvals revoked in some manner.


https://claycorp.com/project/rivian-manufacturing-plant

 

[Supratachophobia]

If demand continues to drop, they're going to magically increase production efficiency in Normal by so much that they "won't need" the GA factory. That's good, because it's expensive. They will put it on the back burner for another five years, is my prediction.

This would save them a ton of money overall. Build 50k R1's, 25k delivery vans, and 125k R2's. Boom, 200k per year production.

 

[Zoidz]

Something is seriously amiss in GA. Here's video from March and nothing is going on. They've hit a brick wall for months now and it's not good. If development is stopped at clear/grub/grading, then they've had approvals revoked in some manner.


https://claycorp.com/project/rivian-manufacturing-plant

What I see is a waterlogged construction site hindering any progress. The previous video showed a similar situation, but this is worse.

 

[mikef]

Last fall I picked mine up from the factory and so got the tour. I asked about how production works. The guy said they run the EDV line as two 10-hour shifts and the R1 line as three 8-hr shifts.

When I hear they're cutting a 3rd shift, it could be the case they're going to 2x10s reducing 24 to 20 hours of production per day rather than cutting to 16.

That might be the case as well because the EDV production line was already revamped a few months ago so the upcoming shutdown might be bringing similar improvements to the R1 line so then 2x10s work better.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Make take the savings and shift some attention to service capacity and expansion??

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

I wonder if this is part of the equation (along with retool) to allow for pilot and/or light production of the R2? This EV space is becoming more dynamic in pricing and tech, and I simply don't think people are going to wait 24+ months for an R2....The delays in GA are brutal for Rivian.

Good guess Mark

 

[djsider2]

R2 in Normal. good move

 

[Supratachophobia]

R2 in Normal. good move

They had to. No way they can survive until Georgia is done

 

[djsider2]

Now I'm wondering why its still first half of 2026 if they already have a factory capable of building cars. A production line cant be setup in 1 year with deliveries starting 2nd half 2025?

 

[Supratachophobia]

Now I'm wondering why its still first half of 2026 if they already have a factory capable of building cars. A production line cant be setup in 1 year with deliveries starting 2nd half 2025?

I thought he said 2025...? He acted like the timeline was moved up. 2026 was the original, right?

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

Now I'm wondering why its still first half of 2026 if they already have a factory capable of building cars. A production line cant be setup in 1 year with deliveries starting 2nd half 2025?

I think they are going with under promise and over deliver for a Q4 2025 delivery......

 

[agame32]

I thought he said 2025...? He acted like the timeline was moved up. 2026 was the original, right?

I believe the stated change is from 2026H2 to 2026H1.

 

[RivRyan]

I think some people are forgetting this is still a hand-assembled prototype. It's not just a matter of putting a bunch of auto-production machines in a line. They still have to design many of those machines, I'd bet.

 

[NineElectrics]

If demand continues to drop, they're going to magically increase production efficiency in Normal by so much that they "won't need" the GA factory. That's good, because it's expensive. They will put it on the back burner for another five years, is my prediction.

Rivian announced exactly this today.

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