(Reuters) – U.S. startup Rivian Automotive said on Sunday a fire broke out in the parking lot of its manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, late on Saturday, damaging several of its electric vehicles.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation, a company spokesman told Reuters. The fire broke out in a parking lot on the north side of the 4 million square foot plant, located 130 miles (209 kilometers) south of Chicago, and the assembly plant was not affected, the Normal Fire Department said in a statement to Reuters.
Rivian did not confirm the number or type of vehicles affected. Rivian, known for its R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck, is expanding its Normal plant to produce the smaller, less expensive R2 SUV, expected to roll out in 2026 and seen as crucial to its success. The company shut down the plant this year for three weeks for a major retooling to streamline manufacturing and cut costs. The electric-vehicle maker produces all of its vehicles at the Normal plant, with plans to build a second assembly plant in Georgia. Last week, it temporarily halted production of commercial delivery trucks used by retail giant Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: ) due to a parts shortage but expects to make up all of the lost production.
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