American electric vehicle start-up Rivian is facing resistance against its proposed expansion, with plans to put a plant in Georgia paused.
After its first vehicle rolled off the Normal, Illinois, production line in September last year, the company has been looking to expand, expecting a future surge in demand for its R1T electric pick-up and R1S SUV.
However, according to Automotive News, a potential plant which is slated to be constructed 45 minutes away from Atlanta, Georgia is facing a large amount of resistance from residents of nearby Rutledge.
Despite the investment totalling close to US$5 billion (AU$6.94bn) and promising to bring more than 7500 jobs to the local economy, those against the facility cite traffic, environmental damage, and continued urban sprawl from Atlanta as their main reasons of concern.
Taking to social media, a Facebook page against the plant’s construction has so far reached 2800 members at the time of writing – just over one-third of the proposed jobs the factory will add to the local economy.
“For us to be successful in Georgia, it’s important that we spend time listening to local concerns, addressing them as best we can, and working hard to be the kind of neighbor [sic] the community would like to see,” said the EV manufacturer in an email to Automotive News.
It’s estimated the proposed plant could have an annual output of 400,000 vehicles, with production scheduled to start in 2024, while an on-site battery facility is also on the cards.
Rivian has previously confirmed one example of each model is currently in Australia for testing, with the manufacturer not ruling out a local launch in the coming year.
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Keyword: Rivian's new Georgia electric vehicle plant faces push-back from locals