Rivian to build massive electric truck manufacturing plant in Atlanta, 7,500 workers will be hired

ATLANTA–Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp today announced that Rivian Inc., based in Irvine, CA, will build a $5 billion manufacturing plant in East Atlanta and hire 7,500 workers.

Once manufacturing operations are fully ramped up, the Georgia facility will be capable of producing up to 400,000 electric trucks and commercial delivery vans per year.

Officials say Rivian’s investment represents the single-largest economic development project in state history.

“We are so proud that Georgia will now be home to Rivian’s largest manufacturing facility,” said Kemp. “This single investment – the largest in state history – represents the future of automotive manufacturing and establishes the leading role the Peach State will play in this booming industry for generations to come. In addition to Georgia’s long-term focus on logistics, talent, workforce, and responsive government that significantly contributed to today’s pivotal announcement, my administration’s more recent emphasis on innovation and development in the electric mobility ecosystem has equipped our state with a new tool in the toolbox to deliver big wins for hardworking Georgians.”

Construction on the facility, located at Stanton Springs North, is expected to begin in summer 2022, and the start of production is slated for 2024.

Rivian’s new campus will support the company’s research and development programs.

The entire project will support the expansion of the U.S. electric vehicle industry and will serve to decarbonize the transportation and energy sectors, state officials say.

Rivian is the latest success in Georgia’s push to recruit the entire electric mobility ecosystem to the state. In August, Gov. Kemp announced the launch of the Electric Mobility and Innovation Alliance, a statewide initiative between government, industries, electric utilities, nonprofits, and other relevant stakeholders focused on growing the electric mobility ecosystem in the state.

Rivian’s strategic location on the I-20 corridor will enable the company to access resources and speed its products to market. Offering 1,200 miles of highway and 5,000 miles of rail, Georgia is equipped to move product quickly and efficiently. Further, with investments such as the newly opened Mason Mega Rail Terminal at the Port of Savannah, which is the largest on-terminal rail facility in North America, Rivian will be able to efficiently tap into supply chain needs.

“We are excited to welcome Rivian to the Peach State’s manufacturing community,” said Griff Lynch, Executive Director for the Georgia Ports Authority. “As we expand our facilities for processing containers and finished vehicles, we look forward to the opportunity of providing supply chain solutions to Rivian, a world-class manufacturer of electric vehicles.”

Rivian’s just under 2,000-acre parcel will include abundant natural space. Open job postings in Georgia will be immediately available at www.rivian.com/careers. Inquiries about project RFIs, RFPs listing, and supply chain outreach can be directed to georgia@rivian.com.

To further assist the company with its workforce requirements, Georgia Quick Start will build and operate a state-of-the-art manufacturing training center that will provide Rivian with a fully customized training program that meets the company’s start-up needs. This will also build capacity and curricula within the Technical College System of Georgia to maintain a long-term pipeline of highly skilled employees who are trained specifically in these operations. In addition, the Georgia Department of Labor will assist the company in identifying and recruiting workers.

Director of the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Aerospace, Defense, and Advanced Manufacturing team Hank Evans represented GDEcD’s Global Commerce division on this competitive project in partnership with numerous partners across the state. Partners include the Joint Development Authority (JDA) of Jasper, Morgan, Newton, and Walton Counties; the Georgia Ports Authority; the Georgia Department of Transportation; Georgia Quick Start; the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; and Georgia Power.

“Rivian’s decision to locate in Georgia will have a tremendous impact on the entire state,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “As I have said, we will see more change in the automotive industry in the next 10 years than we have seen in the past 100, and with this announcement, Georgia will be home to one of the main drivers of this transformation…”