03:04 06-05-2026

Rivian Boosts Georgia Plant to 300K for R2 and Uber Robotaxi

Rivian has revised its plans for the new factory in Stanton Springs North, Georgia. The first phase of the plant is now scaled for 300,000 vehicles a year — 50 percent more than the previous target of 200,000. In a more focused approach, rather than building two 200,000-unit phases, Rivian is concentrating on a more ambitious first stage.

Rivian has also renegotiated its federal financing. The U.S. Department of Energy loan line has been trimmed from $6.6 billion to $4.5 billion: roughly $4 billion in principal and about $500 million in capitalized interest. The company expects to tap the funds in early 2027, with production starting at the site toward the end of 2028.

The plant’s primary mission will be to produce models on the more affordable R2 platform. This is a pivotal move for Rivian: the current R1T and R1S remain expensive niche electric vehicles, while the R2 is designed to open up the broader market. The higher capacity isn’t just about boosting sales — it also helps drive down per-unit costs.

Another piece of the puzzle is a robotaxi service for Uber. The two companies have already unveiled a partnership: if certain autonomous-driving milestones are met, Uber could invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian by 2031. The planned fleet would include up to 50,000 fully autonomous R2 vehicles, accessible through the Uber app.