Rivian’s fancy new Georgia manufacturing facility is one step closer to getting off the ground. The company has entered into an agreement with the state, paving the way for the commencement of construction on the plant, scheduled for early next year.
The agreement allows Rivian to rent land and machinery to operate the plant, which it anticipates will eventually be capable of making 400,000 electric vehicles per year. The company will pay roughly $300 million in property taxes for the facility.
The news was made public in a filing Monday, reports Reuters. Despite the recent revelation, Rivian has been working to get the site ready for construction for a while now. The automaker said in a release last month that the facility’s upper pad was 95 complete, and that construction was almost ready to begin.
Read: Rivian Pushing Ahead With $5 Billion Georgia Plant Despite Opposition From Some Locals
It plans to host a groundbreaking ceremony in early 2024, and the start of vertical construction is expected to begin soon after. The plant is located about 40 minutes outside Atlanta, and was first announced in 2021.
Rivian has also opened an office in Covington, Georgia, a short drive away from the upcoming factory, as part of its effort to grow its local presence in the area. In addition, it opened a Rivian space at the Ponce City Market, in Atlanta last month.
The EV maker refers to this location as its most prominent presence in the state. Here, Atlantans will have the opportunity to learn more about Rivian, and the space will function as a store where potential customers can take demo drives and purchase merchandise.
“We’re excited to welcome visitors to our latest Rivian space in Atlanta,” said Rivian CEO and Founder RJ Scaringe. “This one is particularly exciting as it is close to our future R2 manufacturing campus. This Space will serve as a valuable hub to connect with the surrounding community.”
Rivian is expected to spend $5 billion erecting the plant, which will be operated by 7,500 workers.
