Electric automaker Rivian is getting faster at building vehicles – but still not fast enough to hit its annual production goal.
Rivian said it ended 2022 with annual production of 24,337 vehicles at its Normal plant. That’s just shy of the official 25,000-vehicle goal that it’s been telling investors it would hit.
The company says an additional 714 vehicles drove off the general assembly line in 2022 but aren't 100% finished — including those awaiting parts, software validation, wheel alignment, upfits and charging. That would put 2022 production at 25,051. But because they're not finished, they can't count toward Rivian's official production figure, which stands at 24,337.
The company added a second shift of workers this fall. Rivian made 10,020 trucks, SUVs and delivery vans in October, November and December. That’s up 36% from the third quarter.
Rivian and other automakers have been hit hard by global supply chain challenges, including the chip shortage. Supply chain issues caused the Rivian plant to close for 20 days and shut down early on 50 days in the last 12 months, plus another five days of closure due to inclement weather, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said in a memo to employees Tuesday.
Scaringe said the 25,000 vehicles driving off the general assembly line was "an incredible achievement and testament to the commitment and passion of our entire team."
"Our team stayed focused and worked through the challenges together. You stayed late, worked extra shifts, came in on holidays and worked through our operational challenges as we ramped. None of this is possible without you," he wrote to employees.
