Rivian now has nearly 200,000 orders for its EV trucks and delivery vans. It’s produced 8,000.
In addition to concerns about production, Rivian is navigating the implications of President Joe Biden’s historic climate bill, which would exclude most of its vehicles from a $7,500 federal tax incentive.
chicagotribune.comIllinois joins three other states to create EV charging circuit along scenic Lake Michigan shoreline route
Illinois has joined with three other states to build a 1,100-mile EV charging circuit along Lake Michigan, creating an electrified scenic route with enough juice to get from Green Bay to Traverse City.
chicagotribune.comAmazon hits the road in Chicago and other cities with the first of its 100,000 Rivian electric delivery vans
An early investor in Rivian, Amazon ordered 100,000 electric delivery vans from the startup EV truck manufacturer, which has struggled with a slower than expected ramp-up since launching production in September in downstate Normal.
chicagotribune.comMayra Flores becomes first Mexican-born woman to be sworn into Congress
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi welcomed newly elected Rep. Mayra Flores after she became the first Mexican-born woman sworn into Congress on Tuesday – and first Republican in a century from South Texas. She won Texas' 34th congressional district in a special election.
news.yahoo.comGeorgia sets $1.5B in aid for electric vehicle maker Rivian
The state of Georgia and local governments will give Rivian Automotive $1.5 billion of incentives to build a 7,500-job, $5 billion electric vehicle plant. That's according to documents the company and state signed Monday. That's by far the largest incentive package Georgia has ever offered to a company. Georgia Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson says the size of the package is “appropriate” for the largest single industrial announcement in Georgia history. Rivian hopes to break ground as early as this summer and begin production in Georgia in 2024. The plant has been beset by opposition from residents east of Atlanta who say Rivian will spoil their rural quality of life.
Verdict reached in the trial of Derek Chauvin
Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that touched off worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S.
The verdict set off jubilation around the city. People instantly flooded the surrounding streets downtown, running through traffic with banners. Cars blared their horns. Floyd family members who had gathered at a Minneapolis conference room could be heard cheering and even laughing.
The jury of six white people and six Black or multiracial people came back with its verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days. The now-fire white officer was found guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.