100 MPH EF-1 Tornado Damages Rivian’s Building 2 Before R2 Launch
An EF-1 tornado with 100 mph winds struck Rivian’s Normal, Illinois factory, severely damaging Building 2 used for R2 SUV parts storage and logistics weeks before the planned R2 launch. Rivian says no injuries occurred and aims to restore the affected section before week’s end to avoid delaying R2 rollout.
1. Tornado Impact on Building 2
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 100 mph struck a newly built section known as Building 2 at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois facility. The damage forced the closure of this logistics and parts storage area that supports the upcoming R2 SUV.
2. Production Continuity at Normal Plant
Rivian confirms no injuries and states that R1 trucks and electric commercial van output continued without interruption. The company plans to bring Building 2 back online before the end of the week to keep overall plant operations on schedule.
3. R2 Launch Timeline and Delivery Goals
The R2 SUV debut remains scheduled for the coming weeks with a year-end target of 20,000–25,000 deliveries. Rivian has not announced any launch delay but is assessing the incident’s effect on what would be its fastest new EV ramp in U.S. history.