Rivian is an American electric vehicle automaker and automotive technology company founded in 2009. Rivian is based in Irvine, California, with its manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, and other facilities in Plymouth, Michigan, Palo Alto, Carson, California, Vancouver, and the United Kingdom. In 2017, Rivian announced it was building an electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) and pickup truck on a platform that executives claim can be modified for future vehicles or adapted by other companies. Both vehicles will be semi-autonomous and are designed for both on-road and off-road driving.
The company was founded in 2009 by CEO Robert “RJ” Scaringe, who graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a doctorate in mechanical engineering. After being renamed Avera Automotive and then Rivian Automotive, the company began focusing on autonomous electric vehicles in 2011. Rivian received a large investment and grew significantly in 2015, opening research facilities in Michigan and the Bay Area.
Relocating headquarters to Livonia, Michigan, to be closer to key suppliers, Rivian began working exclusively on electric autonomous vehicles, specifically building an “entire ecosystem” of related products. It also began gearing its prototypes towards the “ride-sharing and driverless car markets.”
In January 2017, Rivian acquired the plant and its manufacturing contents for $16 million, with the plant to become Rivian’s primary North American manufacturing facility. Rivian’s acquisition of a near production-ready facility instead of building a new factory has been likened to Tesla’s acquisition of the NUMMI plant in California.
As of 2020, the company had four primary locations. Its headquarters in Irvine, California, is dedicated to vehicle engineering, and design, propulsion and battery system development, and commercial functions. A facility in Plymouth, Michigan, focuses on vehicle engineering, prototyping, supply chain, and accounting, while a facility in Palo Alto, California, develops self-driving technology and data. The company has additional office locations in Carson, California, and the United Kingdom designated for electric power conversion and advanced engineering, respectively.
According to en.wikipedia and pitchbook.com. Source of photos: internet
