The 217 Today Podcast

217 Today: McLean County electric vehicle manufacturer CEO discusses plans to grow

 
Due in part to supply chain issues, Rivian is only projecting to make 25,000 electric trucks, SUVs, and vans this year – inside a plant that theoretically can make 150,000 per year.

Due in part to supply chain issues, Rivian is only projecting to make 25,000 electric trucks, SUVs, and vans this year – inside a plant that theoretically can make 150,000 per year. Ryan Denham/WGLT

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Today's headlines:

  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed next year’s state spending plan into law.

  • The city of Danville is making way for a new casino near Interstate 74 on the city’s east side after breaking ground Tuesday afternoon.

  • About 50 University of Illinois students marched in support of the Students for Justice in Palestine Monday night, after last week’s raid by Israeli police of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. 

  • Today kicks off the first day of Ebertfest – Champaign’s annual film festival named in honor of late University of Illinois alum and film critic Roger Ebert.

In today's deep dive, we'll a conversation with Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scalise about the McLean County company’s plans to retain and hire more workers as they scale up manufacturing.

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Alex Degman, Farrah Anderson, Neshmia Malik and Ryan Denham.

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