SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. — Progress on building Georgia’s Rivian factory near Social Circle, which was paused last year, has a new timeline for completion. Construction crews are scheduled to break ground in 2026 and the first vehicles are expected to roll off the production line in 2028.
Georgia offered Rivian $1.5 billion in incentives to develop the 2,000-square-foot factory and promote economic development. The deal with the state requires the company deliver 80% of its promised jobs and investments by 2030.
Georgia will produce the new R2 and R3 midsize SUV models. Production of the R2 began at Rivian’s existing plant in Normal, Illinois, to make the cars available to consumers more quickly.
Rivian spokesperson Peebles Squire said the company’s anticipating the new car will attract new buyers.
“We’re opening up the Rivian brand to a whole new group of folks with a much more competitively priced vehicle that sits like right in that midsize SUV segment, and hopefully continues to invite people to make the switch to electric and really experience the brand firsthand,” he said.
Like many auto manufacturers, U.S.-based Rivian is waiting to see what impacts tariffs will have on the industry overall. Squire said the stated goals of the Trump administration support the company’s current company strategy.
“The narrative here is all really about ensuring those jobs, bringing U.S. manufacturing back, and we’re certainly aligned with the administration on that,” he said. “Ultimately in Georgia that means 7,500 jobs by 2030 that people, you know, can be proud to have.”
Rivian recently opened a showroom in Alpharetta where consumers can see vehicles in person.
This article appears on Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News
