A fire erupted at Rivian Automotive’s manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, damaging multiple vehicles.
Normal Fire Department (NFD) crews were called to the scene around 9:45 p.m. Saturday night, according to NFD spokesperson Matt Swaney.
The blaze reportedly started in the plant parking lot.
It’s unclear how many vehicles were impacted by the fire.
WATCH:
Is this what they call a green fire?…. So clean… zero emissions
Rivian EV plant on fire in Normal, Il. pic.twitter.com/4TGiooBrnC
— Sue Knows Best (@sues86453) August 26, 2024
Fire Ignites At Rivian Plant Parking Lot In Normal, IL
The Normal Fire Department was called to the Rivian plant on Saturday night to battle a fire that ignited in the parking lot. Fire crews were called to the plant around 9:45 pm for a report vehicle fire. The fire was… pic.twitter.com/pjHOJSMu7Y
— RivianTrackr (@RivianTrackr) August 25, 2024
25News reports:
Witnesses outside the plant said they reportedly saw the fire as early as 9:50 p.m.
The EV assembly plant was not affected by the fire, Swaney said.
As of midnight Sunday, Swaney confirmed the fire is out and fire crews remained at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
No injuries were reported.
Multiple electric vehicles damaged in fire at Rivian's central Illinois plant https://t.co/mUAlcSOziF pic.twitter.com/07FNoBOXTU
— NBC Chicago (@nbcchicago) August 26, 2024
WATCH:
Per Reuters:
The fire was at a parking lot on the north side of the four-million-square-foot factory, located 130 miles (209 km) south of Chicago, and the assembly plant was unaffected, the Normal Fire Department said in a statement to Reuters.
Rivian did not confirm the number and type of vehicles affected.
Rivian, known for its R1S SUVs and R1T pickups, is expanding the Normal plant to produce its smaller, less expensive R2 SUVs that are expected to roll out in 2026 and seen as critical to its success.
The company this year shut the plant down for three weeks for a major retooling that is meant to simplify manufacturing and slash costs.
The EV maker produces all its vehicles at the factory in Normal, with a second assembly plant planned in Georgia.
