Several Vehicles Caught Fire at Rivian's Illinois Factory Over the Weekend

by Chris Teague

Published: August 26th, 2024

several vehicles caught fire at rivian s illinois factory over the weekend

While it’s true that EVs don’t catch on fire at a higher rate than gas vehicles, it’s also true that they are exceptionally difficult to extinguish when they do go up in flames. Rivian recently saw several recently-completed vehicles catch fire at its factory in Normal, Ill., which damaged many vehicles but didn’t result in injuries.

The fire happened in a parking lot on the facility’s north side. It didn’t damage the factory, but photos appear to show dozens of vehicles quarantined due to the fire. Rivian hasn’t detailed the number of models damaged in the fire.

Earlier this year, Rivian closed the plant for a few weeks to retool and cut production costs and temporarily halted deliveries of its Amazon delivery vans due to a parts shortage, so the fire could not have come at a more inopportune time. Even so, Rivian said it expects to catch up from the Amazon stoppage and will recover missed production time.

Rivian has received positive reviews from owners, but its electric vehicles are pricey, putting them out of reach for a large portion of buyers. The company plans smaller, more affordable models in the upcoming R2 and R3 vehicles, but it has to stay afloat until they arrive sometime in 2026. Rivian partnered with Volkswagen to share technology and designs, which will infuse it with cash in the short term, but VW has placed performance benchmarks that must be met before further investment is available.

[Images: Rivian]

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Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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4 of 27 comments

VoGhost on Aug 26, 2024
I would just remind all the exhaust breathers that we've had this conversation before. https://insideevs.com/news/664640/tesla-sentry-captures-arson-model-s-fire/ You're not learning.

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Theflyersfan on Aug 27, 2024
My Lord, the ignorance and flagrant stupidity in this thread is breathtaking. Makes me wonder how many of you look at your feet and then your socks and wonder if there's a left sock and a right sock. Here goes: AutoInsuranceEZ studied the frequency of fires - from ALL causes, including collisions - in automobiles in 2021. It found that hybrid vehicles, which have an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, had the most fires per 100,000 vehicles (3475), while vehicles with just an internal combustion engine placed second (1530 per 100,000). Fully electric vehicles HAD THE FEWEST: 25 per 100,000. These findings were based on data from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. ht**s://www.caranddriver.com/news/a40163966/cars-catching-fire-new-york-times-real-statistics/ I think you stand a far better chance of your home burning down by keeping barely sealed containers of gasoline for your lawnmower and edger, along with paint thinners and rags with flammable chemicals soaked in. But don't let your constant anti-EV drumbeat ever wear you out. Bring facts, OK? Otherwise, yell upstairs for Mommy to throw down some more Hot Pockets downstairs while you unsuccessfully troll away.

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- See 1 previous
- ToolGuy on Aug 27, 2024
  One question: which Hot Pocket variety?
  
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- Theflyersfan on Aug 27, 2024
  Gotta have the cheesesteak, but the rare times I'm able to choke one down, the cheese is thermonuclear and the meat is frozen. Not sure how that's possible, but I'm also not sure they are categorized as food so everything's on the table.
  
  1
- Jay on Aug 27, 2024
  Gasoline, sitting quietly minding its own business in a cool, dark garage, doesn't just spontaneously burst into violent flames. Proper handling and storage does nothing to prevent lithium batteries from catching fire; the danger is inherent in their design.FKHFTWTRUMP4EVR!
  
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