Inside EV startup Rivian’s push to ramp up production

Normal, Illinois — Rivian Automotive Inc. has the plant, the workforce and the demand — if only it could get the semiconductor chips.

The upstart electric-vehicle maker was the first company to bring an all-electric pickup to market with the launch of its R1T, and is widely regarded as a serious competitor to both EV heavyweight Tesla Inc. and legacy automakers in the industry’s accelerating electric transition. It has significant backing from Wall Street, raising roughly $12 billion in 2021’s largest initial public offering, and major investors including Amazon.com Inc. and Ford Motor Co.