Now Rivian, the electric vehicle maker, is poised to return to action on its massive factory in Georgia. To accomplish that goal, they intend to revitalize the local economy by attracting thousands of high-wage jobs. The company has proactively engaged with the Department of Energy (DOE). Together, we’re partnering with the new federal administration to put quality employment opportunities back into the hands of Americans. So far, Rivian has already generated 46 full-time, permanent jobs in the region.
The electric vehicle manufacturer has expressed interest in shoring up its own supply chain. They are working with current suppliers to explore opportunities for co-locating in proximity to the new facility. While this strategy helps minimize logistics costs, it doubles down on a market-tested, robust auto supply chain in Georgia. Georgia and the Southeast have perhaps the strongest automotive supplier base in the country. We hope to build on that base to lower logistics costs statewide and strengthen a powerful supply chain asset. It’s good for jobs, regionally and nationally, and promotes American manufacturing and economic development,” stated Peebles Squire, a representative from Rivian.
Rivian in recent months has mass rehiring plans. The company still needs skilled workers, as evidenced by these seven open positions recently listed by the company on LinkedIn, including a construction manager. This recruitment initiative is indicative of Rivian’s larger plan to get ready for the factory buildout.
Financially, Rivian has already invested heavily in their Georgia project. As of June 20, 2025, the company has pledged over $80 million to build out the facility. In late 2024, Rivian attracted a giant $6.6 billion loan from the DOE’s Loan Programs Office. With this funding, the company is even more emboldened to realize its ambitious plans.
Construction is expected to escalate in the next couple months. Rivian’s first installations of “deep utilities,” such as fiber, trenching, is set to begin in August. They plan to start “vertical construction” in the first quarter of 2026. Further preparatory work on the factory site would begin this August, with a groundbreaking scheduled for early next year, the company has said.
Rivian first revealed its plans for the Georgia factory shortly after going public in late 2021. At first, the company planned to start construction in 2022 and have production of vehicles up and running by 2024. It subsequently revised its timeline, focusing on an expansion of its Normal factory in Illinois first. This commitment was backed up by $827 million in incentives earned from the state of Illinois.
To gain approval for the project in Georgia, Rivian secured $1.5 billion in state incentives, as well, back in May of 2022. Late last month, Rivian’s founder and CEO, RJ Scaringe, joined conversations to save the project. His conversations with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp during this pivotal summit.
The company is now looking to restart strategic discussions with suppliers. “We are interested in picking back up on supplier conversations,” said Andrew Capezzuto, another representative from Rivian.