Written by Cláudio Afonso | Info@claudio-afonso.com | LinkedIn | X
Rivian‘s plant in Illinois has been temporarily closed since April 5 amid the implementation of new technologies and production methods aimed at substantial cost reduction. The factory will re-open tomorrow, the first of May, and an employee working at the plant has shared what we can expect after the upgrade.
Amid updates on the revamped R1 models, new robots, and quality improvements, it was mentioned that “lots of things still need to happen” to start production of the recently unveiled R2. However, “the wheels are definitely in motion to get it to market as soon as possible,” the Rivian employee added.
The electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Rivian sent out last week a survey to all reservation holders of its recently unveiled R2 about which configurations, specs, and features customers and potential customers would prefer.
Facelift of the R1 Models
According to the employee, there won’t be any visible changes to Rivian’s revamped versions of the R1T and R1S as most changes will be “in the performance and efficiency of the motors and batteries”.
Efficiency in Manufacturing
The employee revealed that Rivian is streamlining production processes by eliminating wiring connectors and harnesses and introducing new build processes. These changes are expected to save time and weight, making manufacturing more efficient.
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Quality Control Priority
“A huge focus is also on overall quality, which a lot of these changes will be a big help with,” the employee said.
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Production Milestones in Sight
Rivian’s in-house Quad Motor variant, internally codenamed Ascent, is reportedly on track for a late May to early June start of production. Additionally, a new HVDB (High Voltage Distribution Box) line is operational, further streamlining production processes.
Bodyshop
In the Body Shop area, the employee mentioned the introduction of new robots and processes, aiming to increase efficiency and precision in manufacturing.
Last Friday, Rivian said it will open its DC charging network to all compatible electric vehicles “later this year” while unveiling a new fast charger with support for North American Charging Standard (NACS)-equipped vehicles.
Rivian’s recent update to the NHTSA’s VIN database reveals preparations for the introduction of a Tri-Motor variant and a new “Premium” trim level for the upcoming version of its model R1S and R1T.
Amid Earth Day, the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Rivian introduced last week a trade-in incentive of up to $5,000 for gas-powered SUVs from 2018 or later.
Rivian’s Vice President of Software Development, Wassym Bensaid, hosted a Q&A event in San Jose on Saturday, showcasing Rivian’s latest models, the R2 and R3X. During the event, Bensaid discussed the forthcoming facelifts for both Rivian R1 models, as well as new features and upgrades.
The company has recently expanded its leasing program to include four additional U.S. states, granting access to the $7,500 EV tax credit. The addition of Maryland, New Mexico, Virginia, and Alaska brings the total number of states on the list to 30.
As initially reported by EV, the company started recently a new round of layoffs to “support our goal to be gross margin positive by the end of the year,” as said in an email to Reuters.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | Info@claudio-afonso.com | LinkedIn | X
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The post Rivian Employee Reveals Updates After Factory Upgrade in April first appeared on EV.