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WGLT, an NPR station in central Illinois, is following every move at the Rivian manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois. The electric vehicle startup has gone from stealth mode to big-time player in the auto world, attracting attention (and big money) from companies like Ford and Amazon.

Rivian To Help Lincoln Build Luxury Electric Vehicle

Bill Ford and RJ Scaringe
Ford Motor Co.
RJ Scaringe, Rivian founder and CEO, left, with Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford.

Rivian is helping Lincoln Motor Company develop its first luxury electric vehicle, the two companies said in a news release issued Wednesday.
The agreement is part of the $500 million investment announced last April by Lincoln’s parent company, Ford.

Lincoln Motor Company logo is shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroi
Credit Paul Sancya / AP
/
AP
A Lincoln Motor Company logo is shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2019.

“Our vehicle development partnership with Ford is an exciting opportunity to pair our technology with Lincoln’s vision for innovation and refinement. We are proud to collaborate on Lincoln’s first fully electric vehicle,” said Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe.

The new battery-powered vehicle will be produced at the Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico. The vehicle will be built atop Rivian's flexible skateboard platform.

Lincoln plans to use Rivian’s skateboard platform to build the electric vehicle. Lincoln has developed two plug-in hybrid vehicles, the Aviator and Corsair.

“Working with Rivian marks a pivotal point for Lincoln as we move toward a future that includes fully electric vehicles,” said Joy Falotico, president, The Lincoln Motor Company.

Rivian has been ramping up hiring to begin producing its own electric vehicles at its plant in Normal, with plans to have the first vehicles, the R1T pickup and R1S SUV, start rolling off the assembly line later this year.

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Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.