Tornado Damages Rivian Plant, Impacts R2 SUV Production

A tornado struck Rivian Automotive's manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, on Friday evening, damaging a key building used for production of the company's upcoming R2 electric SUV, the automaker confirmed Sunday.

The storm, classified as an EF1 with peak winds of about 100 miles per hour by the National Weather Service, hit Building 2 at the facility during a broader outbreak of severe weather across the Midwest. No injuries were reported, and Rivian stated that operations in unaffected areas, including main assembly lines for its R1 trucks and electric delivery vans, continued without interruption. The company anticipates resuming activities in the damaged section this week after completing safety assessments.

In an email to employees viewed by news outlets, Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe described the impact on the building, which handles parts storage, logistics, and assembly processes for the R2. "While Building 2 has sustained damage and is closed for the time being as we complete our assessments, I am incredibly relieved to share that there were no injuries at our plant," Scaringe wrote. He praised staff for following emergency protocols during the event, noting, "Thank you...