Tornado Disrupts Rivian R2 Production Ahead of Major Launch

A tornado damaged Building 2 at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois plant, the factory area assembling the R2 mid-size EV, forcing a temporary closure. Rivian says other facilities remain operational and Building 2 should resume this week. The R2, crucial for profitability and scheduled to start with a performance version around 330 miles of range for about $57,990, faces a later standard release in 2027. Rivian is also backed by a $1.25 billion Uber investment with thousands of R2 orders planned for robotaxi fleets.