ATLANTA – At an event with company leaders, Governor Brian Kemp today announced that Rivian Inc. will invest $5 billion in a carbon-conscious campus in Georgia for its electric adventure vehicles. Across operations, Rivian will create approximately 7,500 jobs on just under 2,000 acres located at the site known as the East Atlanta Megasite, represented by the Joint Development Authority of Jasper, Morgan, Newton, and Walton counties. Once manufacturing operations are fully ramped up, the Georgia facility will be capable of producing up to 400,000 vehicles per year.
Rivian’s manufacturing plant represents the single-largest economic development project in state history, officials say.
“We are so proud that Georgia will now be home to Rivian’s largest manufacturing facility,” said Gov. 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.”
“We’re happy to partner with Georgia on our next manufacturing site, which will allow us to meet demand for Rivian products and to scale our business rapidly,” said Rivian Chief People Officer Helen Russell. “We’re confident that, alongside Illinois, Georgia is the place for Rivian to scale and thrive.”
Construction on the facility, located at Stanton Springs North, is expected to begin in summer 2022, and production is slated to start in 2024.
Strategic location
Rivian’s strategic location on the I-20 corridor will enable the company to access resources and speed its products to market utilizing the state’s 1,200 miles of highway and 5,000 miles of rail. The Port of Savannah, which is the largest on-terminal rail facility in North America, will allow Rivian to “efficiently tap into supply chain needs,” state economic development officials say.
Another boon to the company is Georgia Quick Start’s commitment to 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,” Kemp’s office says.
In addition, the Georgia Department of Labor will assist the company in identifying and recruiting workers.
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 [email protected].
Expanding EV auto industry
Georgia is at the center of the rapidly expanding Southeast Automotive Alley, and Rivian’s investment accelerates the evolution of Georgia’s automotive ecosystem.
Within the last five years, 78 automotive-related companies have located or expanded operations in Georgia, creating thousands of new jobs.
While existing companies in Georgia have expanded their portfolios to include parts for EVs, companies from Korea, Germany, Turkey, and the Netherlands have also recently announced plans to build EV-related facilities in the state.
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 vehicle industry in the state. In addition to attracting new jobs, the alliance is focused on ensuring Georgia’s existing 55,000 automotive manufacturing jobs receive the support they need for retraining and expansions to transition to meet the new demands of electric transportation.
