Electric-vehicle (EV) start-up, Rivian Automotive has confirmed its plans to build a second manufacturing unit in the US. The second unit is likely to include the production of battery cell, according to reports.
Several US states are in a bid for the new plant which could begin production from early next year.
The approximate cost of a new manufacturing unit is more than $1bn, while a unit that produces battery cell could cost a minimum of $2bn, according to reports.
The Amazon-backed start-up’s current US plant in Normal, Illinois has delayed the delivery of its R1T pickup to September and R1S SUV until later in the year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Rivian hopes to begin the production of vans by the end of this year and targeted the production of 10,000 vehicles by 2022.
The IHS Markit forecasted that pickup trucks could account for around one-fifth of the new automobile market for several years.
Several automakers are developing EVs as countries like China and Europe enforce mandates to lower carbon emissions. In the US, automakers like General Motors (GM) and Ford Motors are restructuring plants to make them suitable to produce EVs while Tesla, Foxconn and start-ups like Lucid and Canoo are planning to increase the production of EVs to cater to a clientele that is shifting to battery-powered and electric vehicles.