In this video, the Rivian founder RJ Scaringe is giving a tour of production facility in Normal, where they make electric vehicles. Thre are two main sections in the plant: one for their R1 products (the R1T truck and R1S SUV) and another for commercial vans (EDV 500 and EDV 700).
He starts by explaining how large metal panels for the vehicles are made using big machines that stamp the panels out of steel and aluminum. Next, he shows two separate body shops: one for the R1 vehicles and another for the commercial vans. They’ve built new parts of the factory to make room for these large vans, with massive robots helping assemble the van bodies.
Then, camera moves to the paint shop, which is new and efficient, where they can paint vehicles and change colors without wasting paint. The painted bodies are then assigned to specific builds based on customer orders.
In the drive unit assembly area, they put together critical parts like the gearbox and motor, which power the vehicles. They also build large battery packs with thousands of cells.
Next, he talks about general assembly, where workers put all the parts together to complete the vehicles. They have two assembly lines, one for R1 vehicles and another for the vans. After assembly, each vehicle goes through tests to ensure everything works correctly, like wheel alignment, headlight adjustments, and sensor calibration. Finally, the vehicles go through a water test and a short drive before they’re inspected for quality.
He ends the tour by emphasizing the importance of the team and their hard work, which is crucial for the success of the factory.
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