Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, is planning to transfer most of the company engineering and product development staff from Plymouth to Irvine, CA. Several other employees will be transferred to the Normal, Ill plant, according to a statement from the automaker. Rivian currently employs about 750 workers in the Plymouth Township operation and Rivian spokeswoman Amy Mast confirmed some product development staff will be moving out of Michigan, but she said the company plans to keep some functions in the Plymouth facility.
Rivian employs about 2,300 workers in eight facilities - six in the United States, one in Canada and one in the United Kingdom. The transfer to the California site was described as “a consolidation of engineering teams to improve workflows and reduce environmental impact from travel by a corporate spokeswoman.
“We've recently completed an expansion at our Michigan location, and it will remain an important presence for us. We are also committed to creating a vibrant and inviting manufacturing presence in Normal, where all Rivian vehicles will be produced. As we grow, we'll keep evaluating and evolving our footprint and geography,” she concluded.