A French automotive supplier will be the first company moving into the new supplier park near the Rivian manufacturing plant in west Normal.
OPmobility plans to assemble bumpers in Normal for Rivian’s new lower-cost R2 model that goes into production next year. It's expected to start at $45,000.
OPmobility said Thursday it will hire 81 employees in Normal for logistics, assembly, loading, and other roles. They’ll make at least 20% above the average wage for that job classification across McLean County. The company also said it will make a “significant capital investment” in Normal.
In exchange, OPmobility will get an unspecified amount of tax breaks as part of the state's Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois [REV Illinois] program, aimed at clean energy production and manufacturing. Rivian itself has lined up hundreds of millions of dollars in state incentives through that program in support of the R2 launch.
“We appreciate the State of Illinois's partnership and support in helping attract key suppliers to the Normal area,” Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said in a statement. “Our Normal supplier park will provide improved material supply logistics as we increase production in 2026 to build R2, in addition to R1 and our commercial vans.”
Rivian announced the new 1.2 million-square-foot supplier park in May, but no tenants were named at that time. Rivian also is getting millions in state and local tax incentives for the supplier park located across the street from the main manufacturing plant.
“In Illinois, we aren’t just making electric vehicles: we are creating an entire ecosystem — attracting investments, bolstering our workforce, and strengthening the EV manufacturing supply chain,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “Rivian’s investment will attract suppliers from across the globe to invest in Illinois and continue to create good-paying jobs, providing Illinois with the competitive edge to thrive in the clean energy economy.”
OPmobility is a global company, with 26 plants and nine research-and-development centers in North America.
“This step reflects OPmobility’s commitment to scaling innovation and delivering value across key markets. The U.S. is a key pillar of our strategy, and we’re excited to deepen our presence in a market that continues to shape the future of mobility with this facility in Illinois,” said Thibaut Stern, president for North America of OPmobility Exterior & Lighting.
Rivian makes electric pickup trucks, SUVs and commercial delivery vans in Normal. The company is one of McLean County’s largest employers.
