Rivian Has Invested Millions in 3D Printing. Its Biggest Plans Are Still Ahead

Rivian has invested over $5 million in 3D printers to accelerate its vehicle development and production processes, with plans to significantly expand the technology's use across the company.

What Happened

Rivian is scaling up its use of additive manufacturing after initially deploying 3D printers at its Detroit facility. The company has now begun adding a bay of machines at its main assembly plant in Normal, Illinois, which will allow employees to print parts on demand. According to Jared Beck, Rivian’s head of additive manufacturing, the goal is to democratize 3D printing so that every engineer can access printed parts quickly. The company also spends approximately $1.7 million annually on raw materials for these machines.

Why It Matters

For Rivian, the shift to on-site 3D printing offers substantial cost and time savings compared to traditional prototyping, which often involves external suppliers and expensive stamping equipment. Beck stated that the cost savings have been "well in the millions," while production times for certain parts have dropped from weeks to days or even hours. This approach reduces supplier tooling costs and logistics expenses, enabling faster design iterations and more flexible manufacturing capabilities for models like the R2.

The Bottom Line

Rivian joins other major automakers like Tesla, Ford, and General Motors in leveraging advanced 3D printing to streamline operations. By integrating additive manufacturing into its core workflow, the EV startup aims to maintain a competitive edge in development speed and production efficiency.