LIVE: Gov. Pritzker, Rivian to announce expanded Illinois investment [Video]

NORMAL (25News Now) – An announcement is expected Thursday afternoon in which electric vehicle maker Rivian and Gov. JB Pritzker will announce what the governor’s office says is an “expanded Illinois investment.”

Although no details about the investment are being released, two reliable sources told 25News on March 8 that state government leaders were working on financial incentives to help Rivian expand the local factory and perhaps hire thousands more new employees to build the more affordable R2 sport utility vehicle in Normal.

Rivian initially planned to build the R2 at a new $5 billion factory in Georgia, but the company changed its plans because the Georgia plant won’t be ready in time to start R2 production during the first half of 2026.

The two reliable sources said the expansion could potentially bring another 2,500 jobs to Normal, on top of the approximately 8,000 people already working there.

Pritzker and Rivian leaders are expected to make the announcement at 1:30 p.m. in Normal.

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