Tesla's rival, American startup Rivian Automotive, announced on Sunday that a fire broke out in the parking lot of its manufacturing plant in Nomore, Illinois, late Saturday, damaging multiple electric vehicles.
The company spokesperson told the media that there are currently no reports of casualties and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
It is reported that local firefighters were called to the factory around 9:45 pm on Saturday, and the fire was extinguished at midnight on Sunday.
In a statement sent to the media, the fire broke out in a parking lot on the north side of the 4 million square foot factory, and the assembly plant was not affected.
Rivian has not disclosed the number and types of affected vehicles.
Rivian is known for its R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck. The car company is expanding its NOMEL factory to produce smaller and cheaper R2 SUVs, which are expected to be launched in 2026.
The R2 SUV is considered the key to Rivian's success. Although this model has not yet been launched for sale, it has already attracted a considerable number of fans. Rivian's Vice President of Production, Tim Fallon, recently stated that the pre order volume of R2 "far exceeds 100000 units" and is still on the rise.
Rivian produces all cars at its Normer factory, which was closed for three weeks this year for a major overhaul aimed at simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
The car company also plans to establish a second assembly plant in Georgia.
Due to a shortage of components, Rivian suspended the production of commercial delivery vehicles used by retail giant Amazon last week. This shutdown is the latest setback in a series of supply chain challenges that Rivian is facing.