Leaked Site Plan Shows How Rivian Could Build Up To 20M SF In Georgia
Electric carmaker Rivian's plans for a $5B assembly plant include nearly 20M SF of development at Stanton Springs, a 2,000-acre economic development megasite some 50 miles east of Atlanta.
As pieces of that historic investment, the EV company could build a testing track for its vehicles, wooded “adventure trails” and space for research and development, according to a leaked site plan posted on the Rivian Forum website. News of the site plan was first reported by the green energy news site Electrek.
Savannah-based engineering firm Thomas & Hutton's logo appears on the aerial rendering. Calls to the firm weren't returned as of press time.
The rumored site plan hews closely to what the company already has revealed about its assembly plant in a recent filing with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, which called for a total of 20M SF of assembly and ancillary buildings. But the documents offered more specific details of the campus, including 13 buildings, the Adventure Trail and a testing track.
Rivian's wouldn't be the first car test track in Georgia. Porsche Cars North America's headquarters next to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport includes a customer experience center with a testing track. There are no details about what the Adventure Trail entails, such as whether it would be available to the public or just Rivian workers or whether it would be for pedestrians or a path to test out the SUV models that Rivian plans to produce at the factory.
Other details on the site plan include 144 charging stations, a 100K SF events facility, outdoor amenity spaces and a 2.5M SF research and development facility. In an updated filing with the state, Rivian also described road improvements for its project, including a new interchange at Old Mill Road and Interstate 20, as well as improvements to and the widening of Highway 278 interchange. State officials previously announced plans to build a technical school on the campus to train future workers.
California-based Rivian, which was founded in 2009, went public in November and has a market capitalization of more than $85B, but it has yet to earn a profit. Prior to its IPO, Rivian had been an EV industry darling, attracting investment from Amazon, Ford and Cox Automotive. Experts say Rivian is part of a new breed of carmaker catering to an industry that is expected to meteorically rise in the next few years.
Rivian plans to hire 7,500 people. Once fully operational, state officials said Rivian will be able to produce up to 400,000 vehicles a year. Construction on the facility is scheduled to begin this summer, with production slated to start in 2024.
