We're ready to go.
Well, good morning everyone. I didn't realize I was emceeing this event. I'm not actually. But I'm so happy to be here today. There's a motto for Rivian: keeping the world adventurous forever. And here we are doing that. So, congratulations on what we're doing here today. What an incredible journey this has been.
And by all indications, it's going to continue to be an incredible journey and we're so proud of that. I've been lucky enough to be along for the ride on this from day one. Actually, before day one, I was just thinking about one of the bucket list items I got to do. I was probably one of the first people to do a R1T prototype from 0 to 60. But what makes it stand out is I got to do it in the factory and that was so cool.
So, it's just so amazing what Rivian has done for our community, the excitement that they brought to our community. What I have found from people that have come here from all over the world, they love being in Normal, Illinois. They love the people here. And the two comments that I get all the time are: everybody here's so darn friendly, and it's such an easy place to live. And we're so proud of that. And we're so proud you've identified that and chosen our community to build your vehicles.
And you know, R.J., we've had some interesting discussions along the way in terms of coming together for what's happened here. It's beyond everybody's expectations about where we are today. The R2 is such an exciting vehicle. I was able to get a little test ride in Austin, Texas a while back, and how that vehicle performed was just unbelievable. Unbelievable. And the fact that it's coming into a price point that's going to make it available to the average American in this country is incredible.
We're looking forward to future years going forward with Rivian in our community. They're such an asset. We have such a partnership in this community. And I'll say, we've said this about Illinois State University, but what's good for Rivian is good for Normal. And what's good for Normal is good for Rivian. And that partnership is so key. It is so important that we maintain that partnership, have that partnership, and just make this community thrive and your business thrive as well. So with that, I think I'll turn this over to R.J. Scaringe.
Well, thank you, Mayor Koos, and thank you, Mayor Brady, and of course, thank you, Governor Pritzker, for being here. This is an amazing event. It really is a reflection of so much work, so much effort across so many different parts of Rivian. And as we were walking in, the governor asked me, you know, like the timeline of this seemed really fast. And I said, 'Well, actually, we had the groundbreaking in November of 2024, and I was standing a little bit behind where I am right now, and this was a dirt field, a dirt field with some grass. And for those at Rivian, there was also a test track that went around where we're standing or close to where we're standing right now.'
And the process to take what was a grass field and convert it not only into a building but into a plant with equipment, with team members, with leadership across the different functions within this area, that took the combined efforts of the company and of course that culminates in what we see in the vehicle. The vehicle's exciting, it's fun, it, as Mayor Koos just said, it allows us to bring the Rivian brand into a price point that's far more accessible to a lot more people. The starting price of R2 is going to be from $45,000 and up. And so it's really a mass market product for us.
So when we see the vehicle that looks like the completed product, but what you really want to see is the thousands and thousands of people behind that that help put this together. From our engineering teams to our software development teams to of course the manufacturing and manufacturing engineering teams to the teams that built this building. And then very, very importantly to our partners. That's our partners in the community. That's our partners as suppliers. And we're very, very pleased to be here today and very excited to see R2s coming off the line. Excited to see lots of customers start to be able to drive them. So with that, I'm going to hand it off and thank you everyone for being here.
Good morning. My name is Megan Brown. I'm part of the facilities team. So, got to build this exciting place and now I get to operate it here in Normal, Illinois. My team's job is to keep our spaces here at Normal usable, safe, clean, and ready for people in production where we build these incredible vehicles. I've actually lived in central Illinois now for 15 years, and I can still remember when I heard Rivian would be coming to our community. We were excited, but we were a little nervous. What was this company? Were they for real? Of course, what you see today quickly put those doubts to rest.
As you can see, I've been with Rivian now a little over five years, and it has been wonderful to watch this place grow while supporting our communities, too. Now, with R2 officially rolling off the line, we're more excited than ever for what the future holds. So, thank you for joining us today. And now, it's my pleasure to introduce the governor of this great state of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker.
Thank you so much, Megan. Thank you for the work that you're doing here. I have to say that all of us take enormous pride in what Rivian is accomplishing right here in Normal. I know that R.J. is praiseworthy and somebody who when he first came to Illinois, came to Normal to look at this plant, there were maybe 25 employees of Rivian entirely. And so now with the thousands and thousands of people that are here in this plant and as part of Rivian, I must say the pride is abounding. I don't know a single person that's working here that doesn't feel like every day progress is being made. And I'm just so happy about that. I'm happy for the people that work here. I'm happy for the people of Normal and for the entire state.
You know, made in Illinois. That is not just a platitude. It's a reflection of the people of this state and it's a source of immense pride for all of us. I want to thank everyone for being here to celebrate the launch of this exciting new vehicle from our friends here at the best EV maker in the entire world.
And of course this vehicle is another major milestone brought to you by the dedicated workers at Rivian. I want to point out that I am signed up to buy an R2 myself as an owner of an R1 and one that we use on a farm. So if anybody thinks this is just a street vehicle or one that you use when you're camping, it actually gets used on a farm every single day. And it works beautifully and we love it. So can't wait for my more in-town vehicle. That will be the R2.
I want to just recognize and thank of course R.J. for his continued commitment to our state and to the people of Normal. I want to recognize Normal Mayor Chris Koos and Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady, McLean County Board Chair Elizabeth Johnston for their steadfast leadership here in the county, in the cities, in the town. This is an important part of the state and it's booming and we're very excited about what's happening here.
Lisa Clemens of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. I want to thank her for the economic development efforts that she puts in for this state. And of course my friends in the legislature, Senator Dave Koehler, Representative Sharon Chung, who I get to work with in Springfield. I want to thank them for their commitment constantly to improving the economy for the people that they represent and for the entire state. I especially want to thank the men and women of Rivian. The workforce here is second to none. You are the people who make all of this possible and I want to make sure that you get the recognition that you deserve.
Just over a decade ago, this Mitsubishi plant originally here in Normal closed its doors. And in that story, we have seen well the story of too many Midwestern manufacturing towns. A once thriving factory left and took jobs with it, putting the future of the community in jeopardy. But thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and efforts of R.J. and the entire Rivian team, today we're telling a different story, of course, one of renewal, of innovation, of opportunity.
The launch of the R2 is the next exciting chapter in that story, creating more jobs, more investment, more opportunity for the people of this state, making EV ownership a more affordable option for more families across the United States. Particularly combined with Illinois's electric vehicle tax rebate for consumers and with Rivian's new supplier park, a whole new EV ecosystem is being created right here in the Bloomington-Normal area.
When Ford launched the Model T, it turned cars from a luxury really into an accessible option for workers and it helped transform the middle class. Well, Rivian is now creating a luxury vehicle at a more affordable price point with sustainability and economic growth as a byproduct. It's a product for the middle class. It's a product for people who haven't otherwise been able to afford an electric vehicle here in the United States. And I'm proud that it's being made right here in Normal and in Illinois. All of Illinois benefits with what you've accomplished here.
And it's worth noting that this represents just the latest in a continuing string of economic successes for our state. And if you'll allow me, I'm just going to go through a couple of them. We've now created the conditions for companies like Rivian to choose to expand here in our state, to lay down their roots that benefit working families and all of our people. Achieving faster economic growth has been all about envisioning the industries and the jobs that bring higher wages and a higher standard of living.
It has meant transforming a 40-year-old Mitsubishi combustion engine auto plant into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the best EV company in the United States, in the world indeed. Replacing a 140-year-old U.S. Steel plant site in Chicago with the nation's leading hub of quantum computing. Turning a 106-megawatt solar industry in Illinois into 7,500 megawatts of installed capacity, enough to power 1.1 million homes in our state.
Thinking big has created endless opportunity and thousands of new good-paying jobs for Illinois families. From our Reimagining Energy and Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act to the Invest in Illinois Fund to our massive infrastructure upgrades and workforce investments, we are using every tool at our disposal to ensure that companies like Rivian and IBM and PsiQuantum and Double Black Diamond Solar have been able to build, invest, and innovate here for the long term.
This recipe has fueled transformational growth opportunities and it's demonstrated that economic prosperity does not have to come at the expense of environmental sustainability. In fact, it can advance that. And I want to once again thank our partners here at Rivian who have not only been great business partners, but strong community allies. We look forward to tremendous growth and an exciting future together.
And now I'm very happy to pass this podium over to a tireless champion from the General Assembly, somebody that I get to work with every day. Somebody who I want you to know is a real leader. Truly he has that title and he's somebody who demonstrates leadership qualities. And that's your great Senator Dave Koehler.
First of all, I want to thank Governor Pritzker for making Illinois the leading state in the nation in promoting EVs and renewable energy. Your leadership has made a difference and we thank you. Climate change is real and we are all doing something about it.
Secondly, I want to thank Rivian for their commitment and foresight into making a manufacturing facility right here in Normal, Illinois a world-class leader in the production of electric cars.
I further want to thank Rivian for being a lead proponent on a piece of legislation that I've been working on for three years called the Clean Transportation Standard. The CTS will reduce carbon intensity by 30% in 10 years in our transportation sector. Again, climate change is real and we are all doing something about it.
In particular, R.J., I want to thank Tom Vanhickey for helping from your — he works in your Irvine, California headquarters, but he has been instrumental in helping us to shape the Clean Transportation Standard. And I'm grateful to him and to Rivian for their involvement.
What this means is that by establishing a credit market to incentivize carbon reduction, things like buying a new R2 or building out a fast charging network or what California, Oregon, Washington, and New Mexico are doing with their low carbon fuel standard, we will continue to put our money where our mouth is in terms of climate change. Only this time that money won't have to come from Illinois taxpayers.
It will come from big oil. It'll come from the fossil fuel industry who will be mandated to buy those credits. Illinois can be the first in the Midwest to do this. And our very own Midwest version means that farmers too will have a role as we move into more plant-based fuels. That is a win-win for all of us.
And so R2, your future is bright and it's clear that the values of Rivian and that of Illinois are firmly together and mean a bright future for all of us. Congratulations on this important milestone. And thank you.
I want to now — thank you. I want to now introduce Lisa Clemens, who is the face of Illinois in terms of seeking out investment like this. She works for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Lisa.
Good morning. I'm very happy to be here on behalf of all my colleagues at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity who have worked with Rivian for many years on their projects. Today is a wonderful example of what can happen when a company and a state commit to growing together over the long term. It's also a manifestation of the vision of Governor Pritzker for what business development could be and should be in the state of Illinois and the tools that he and the legislature have provided to those of us who are proud to be a part of Team Illinois.
It starts with the state's unwavering commitment to supporting cutting-edge technology and companies in clean energy through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and through our five-year economic plan. As Rivian has grown, so has the capability and toolbox of Team Illinois. I want to quickly call out three areas of partnership that I am particularly proud of.
First, Illinois incentives support our existing manufacturing base and the companies of the future. The Reimagining Energy and Vehicles Act, which was passed by the General Assembly in 2021, supports EV companies with large EV projects like this one for 30 years, locking in great wages for workers like those of you here today and for those working in the nearby supplier companies.
Second, Illinois's workforce strategies are flexible and creative. As one of the state's largest manufacturing employers, Rivian attracts workers from the Mississippi to the border of Indiana. DCEO has taken a multi-pronged approach to supporting Rivian's hiring and training teams. You see, we had to meet the company's ambition to not only change the automotive industry, but to change worker training and hiring. This required a regional approach. So we brought together not one but three local workforce investment areas from Bloomington, Champaign, and Decatur and three community colleges: Heartland, Richland, and Parkland.
In fact, the community college system anchors our long-term approach. Heartland Community College, led by Dr. Cornille, received one of the state's first manufacturing training academy grants to build a facility for advanced manufacturing to support Rivian and others. Rivian will soon have a second MTA here on site that aligns seamlessly with the one at Heartland.
The state also provided a $5 million grant to expand access to these manufacturing jobs through an EV pathway curriculum developed for high school students and through community-based organizations. 140 individuals have already been engaged to date along the road to earning industry-recognized manufacturing credentials.
Finally, the state has supported Rivian's infrastructure needs as they've grown to include a supplier park and multiple locations with co-located companies in their supply chain. One example is DCEO's partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation. And I want to recognize my colleague Kenzel, who is the engineer for regions four and five, including this one. IDOT provided an $11.5 million grant to support building the tunnel between this plant and the supplier park to ensure safety on Highway 150 and operational excellence as the Rivian campus has grown.
Rivian is one of the most exciting companies in the world. I want to thank them for their trust and partnership, especially Andrew, Brian, and Hugh who we've worked with very closely. I also want to thank all of the DCEO staff working on this project, so many that the governor can be truly proud of, and our local partners at the City of Normal and the Bloomington-Normal EDC. All who continue to deliver real results for this company and all of central Illinois. Thank you for having me today. And I believe this concludes the formal portion of our program.
Hey everyone, hope you're having a good day and happy to take any questions. Ben.
