There’s a particular moment of satisfaction that comes when someone confidently sneers at your vehicle, only to get blindsided by the truth. Such was the case when a Rivian R1T owner recalled a parking lot encounter with a Ford F-150 driver who muttered something about “foreign junk.” The reply was swift,
“Rivians are actually built in Normal, Illinois.
Your F-150? That one was assembled in Mexico.”
It was a rare kind of modern patriotism, one rooted not in blind brand allegiance but in manufacturing geography. In the world of American trucks, few moments cut deeper than learning your supposed domestic iron came from south of the border while the EV you mocked rolled off a line in the Midwest.
“I get stopped by passersby in the parking lot about twice a month asking ‘what kind of truck is that’ or ‘yeah, but who makes it’ and ‘I’ve never seen a trunk in the front.’
I turn into a feature salesman, pointing out all the extra storage and dropping stats like horsepower.” - OPs_Real_Father, Reddit user and R1T owner
That quote sums up the Rivian ownership experience in 2025. You don’t just drive the truck, you carry the banner for it. Like owners of the first EV1s or early Model S’s, Rivian drivers are on the front lines of a generational shift.
Rivian’s Normal, Illinois Factory: 164% Expansion, $120M Supplier Park & $5B Georgia Gigafactory
- Rivian's primary manufacturing facility is located in Normal, Illinois, where it produces the R1S SUV, R1T pickup truck, and commercial electric vans. The plant has undergone significant expansion, increasing its size by approximately 164.7% since Rivian acquired it, now encompassing over 6.5 million square feet. To support increased production and streamline operations, Rivian is investing nearly $120 million to construct a 1.2 million-square-foot supplier park adjacent to the plant, aimed at reducing logistics costs and enhancing supply chain efficiency. Rivian plans to build a new manufacturing facility near Social Circle, Georgia, with a projected investment of $5 billion. The plant is designed to produce up to 400,000 vehicles annually and is expected to create approximately 7,500 jobs. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with production of the company's R2 SUVs and R3 crossover vehicles starting in 2028.
- The Illinois plant will initiate production of the R2 model in 2026, serving as a bridge until the Georgia facility becomes operational. This phased approach allows Rivian to meet immediate demand for its new models while scaling up production capacity for future growth.
The R1T and R1S are conversation pieces, proof of concept, rolling arguments in the war between legacy loyalty and modern pragmatism. And the conversations aren’t always friendly. Sometimes, they start with admiration. Other times, with skepticism or open hostility. But they always start.
Take Reddit user xDaciusx, who might as well be Rivian’s unofficial regional sales manager. He’s given over 50 test rides to complete strangers, with hundreds more “show and tells” offered in parking lots and farm supply stores. He hauls thousands of pounds of gear, pays a fifth of the fuel cost compared to his F-350, and does it all in relative silence with better tech and more comfort.
The Truth About EV Ownership
And when the snark starts flying, about cost, range, or reliability, he calmly drops the numbers, 80,000 miles, zero mechanical issues besides tires. Suddenly, the guy who thought EVs were “golf carts” is holding a clipboard.
There’s no denying the tribalism still burns hot in truck culture. “I live in Tennessee,” TheHarb81 said,
“So I get more conversations like the above than genuine interest.”
The subtext is always the same, you’re not one of us. And yet, for all the dirty looks and skeptical grunts, something happens when the facts come out.
Rivians are quick, shockingly quick. 835 horsepower, instant torque, and a 0–60 time that embarrasses a Mustang GT. Rivian is even helping Amazon be more efficient with their deliveries.
Why Rivian’s Illinois-Built Trucks Out-Domestic Domestic ICE Competitors
They’re American-made, often more so than the trucks claiming heritage. They haul, they tow, they off-road. And they do it all without belching smoke or rattling your kidneys.
The disbelief often turns to respect after a brief performance demo. Reddit user AbjectFray notes how Raptor owners like to challenge him at stoplights, only to be left staring at taillights.
“They’d say I drive a golf cart until I told them the horsepower and torque on my quad,”
He wrote. Even hardened skeptics struggle to discount raw numbers. At that point, brand loyalty starts to look like a poor excuse for ignoring superior engineering.
What makes the Rivian moment so uniquely American is that it’s a product born from risk and ambition. It's not the product of a 100-year legacy; it's a moonshot that stuck the landing. The company chose Normal, Illinois, as its manufacturing base.
The Infrastructure Issues With EVs
Sure, the public charging infrastructure still lags behind. Sure, some people are going to balk at the price tag without understanding the total cost of ownership. And yes, plenty of EV discourse is still marred by ignorance and misinformation, thanks in part to an ecosystem that highlights battery fires while ignoring the millions of incident-free miles.
R1T & R1S Specs: Dimensions, Quad-Motor Power, and 105–180 kWh Battery Options
- The Rivian R1S SUV measures approximately 200.8 inches in length, 81.8 inches in width (with mirrors folded), and stands at 77.3 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 121.1 inches. The R1T pickup truck is longer, at 217.1 inches, with a width of 81.8 inches (mirrors folded), a height of 78.2 inches, and a wheelbase of 135.8 inches.
- Both models offer multiple powertrain options. The quad-motor setup delivers up to 835 horsepower, enabling the R1S to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 3.0 seconds. The R1T, with the same quad-motor configuration, achieves similar performance, reaching 60 mph in about 3.0 seconds.
- 105 kWh, 135 kWh, and 180 kWh. The 135 kWh "Large Pack" offers an EPA-estimated range of approximately 314 miles for the R1T. The R1S, equipped with the same battery, provides a similar range, making both suitable for long-distance travel.
But here’s the truth, Rivian owners know something most people don’t yet. They know what it’s like to start every morning with a full tank, never visit a gas station, and still out-haul your neighbor’s Silverado.
So when someone asks,
“Why didn’t you just buy a Ford?
The answer is simple. You have bought a Ford for the last 40 years. This time, you wanted something better. And as it turns out, better just happens to be built in Illinois.
Are you a fan of the Rivian R1S and R1T?
Let us know in the comments below.
Image Sources: Rivian Newsroom
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.
