WORKING FOR RIVIAN APPEARS TO HAVE ITS PERKS WITH R1T, R1S EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT

As Rivian gets closer to their initial production this year, a massive influx of workers is heading to Normal, Illinois where the factory is located. And those workers will be highly encouraged to purchase a Rivian R1T pickup or R1S SUV thanks to a hefty employee discount. The information comes from the Rivian Owners Forum, where a member’s brother supposedly has the insider scoop.

And that scoop is that Rivian might pay owners $1,000 a month for two years to drive an R1S or R1T. So instead of a major discount off the MSRP like many automakers do, the discount will be spread across the first two years of ownership. In other words, employees can drive a Rivian for free for two years, assuming their monthly payment is around $1,000. It’s worth noting, however, that InsideEVs covered the employee discount and reached out to Rivian about the discount, and they neither confirmed nor denied the program.

The forum also pointed out the housing market in Normal, Illinois is rapidly changing as a result of Rivian. Rivian has said they plan to hire around 1,800 employees in Normal for the R1T and R1S factory, which is bringing an influx of people to the town as they move in this year. There’s a serious imbalance of supply and demand, with homes selling rapidly.

In fact, realtor Greg Zavitz told WGLT, the local news channel for the Normal area, that this is the best selling time he’s ever experienced. The addition of the factory has even forced Zavitz to tell one perspective home buyer that they simply couldn’t purchase a four bedroom $225,000 home because there weren’t any available. He’s also telling people they should look at homes the moment they see it go on the market. Wait for the next week, and it’ll probably be gone. New subdivisions are also being built at rapid speed.

Finally, the WGLT story said the Rivian R1T and R1S factory has reinvigorated the local hotel industry. Several long term hotels are filling up while people wait for the right home to go on the market.

Rivian is changing the automotive industry and EV segment with their off-road focused R1T and R1S. But these elements of the company illustrate how car manufacturers have an impact on more than just the customers they interact with and the people they employ, as their reach stretches into the community at large.