Rivian, which is an electric truck startup, will have to wait until 2021 to begin the production of its new vehicle. The automaker is gearing up to offer an electric truck and SUV that will stand out with high performance and most likely high prices. They were planning to roll off the line in a converted Mitsubishi plant in late 2020, but the massive project grounded to a halt in the wake of the recent crisis worldwide.
Rivian’s Electric Truck Production Will Be Delayed Temporarily
Rivian was planning to make deliveries of pre-ordered SUVs and trucks, but their facility has been placed under a temporary shutdown. This will delay both the construction process and the launch date to 2021. While other automakers in the US have stopped making vehicles and converted to making ventilators, Rivian has remained sidelined with a large portion of its workers staying idle.
The Startup’s Employees Will Get Full Paychecks
Rivian was expecting to hire thousands of employees for its Normal plant, found near Chicago, but it now keeps a skeleton maintenance crew after it sent its workers home. Rivian leadership said that all its employees and even the hourly workers will still get their full paychecks. That is in contrast with Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, where the Lincoln Aviator, Ford Explorer, and Police Interceptor SUVs are made. There, around 5,600 workers were laid off with some workers receiving roughly 75% of their pay.
Meanwhile, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has closed its Belvidere Assembly Plant temporarily, laying off nearly 3,800 workers for the period until production resumes. FCA plans to gradually restart its Canadian and U.S. manufacturing at the start of May.
Because of the delays, Rivian sent an email to all its customers who have pre-ordered the electric truck or SUV, explaining in detail how the shutdown will cause some level of delay. Rivian still vowed to try and minimize the disruption that the situation causes to the launch schedule, and included a video that shows the progress that is being made on the plant right before the shutdown.