Key Takeaways RIVN cut 140 jobs, mainly in manufacturing, to streamline operations ahead of the R2 SUV rollout. The Normal, IL plant will temporarily shut down to install R2 equipment with minimal R1 line disruption. RIVN expects R2 to drive profitability through lower costs and shared infrastructure with existing models.Rivian Automotive, Inc. (RIVN) has laid off approximately 140 employees or about 1% of its workforce, as it gears up for the 2026 launch of its more affordable R2 SUV, per TechCrunch. The ...