The Normal Fire Department got a call just before 9:45 p.m. Videos shared on social media showed huge flames reaching into the sky. Thick black smoke billowed out from the fire.
After the flames died down, 57 vehicles ended up damaged. Most of the cars turned into burnt-out carcasses. A few suffered less damage. The affected vehicles sat boxed in a corner of the parking lot.
Kelli Felker, a spokesperson for Rivian, told 25 News Now:
"We are investigating the cause of a fire that damaged a number of vehicles in a parking lot at our Normal plant late Saturday night. The plant itself is unaffected. At this time, we are not aware of any injuries."
The production facility didn't get damaged in the fire. Rivian's plans for future models like the R2 and R3 won't change because of this incident.
This fire comes after another Rivian-related incident in July. Three Rivian-built Amazon delivery vans caught fire at an Amazon fulfillment center in Houston, Texas. Rivian said one van was plugged in but not charging. The company also stated that the high-voltage battery didn't start that fire.
Rivian makes electric vehicles, focusing on their R1S and R1T models. The company's main factory sits in Normal, Illinois, where this recent fire happened.
Source: 25 News Now