Rivian Automotive plans to restart site preparation in August at its long-delayed electric-vehicle factory east of Atlanta after a months-long pause, according to internal emails obtained through a public-records request. The documents show the company still intends to break ground early next year on the US$5 billion facility, which was first announced in 2021 but pushed back amid local opposition, supply-chain snags and a broader spending freeze by the Trump administration. Rivian has invested about US$80 million in the project as of 20 June, almost doubling its outlay from a year earlier, and has created 46 full-time jobs. The buildout is supported by a US$6.6 billion loan approved last year under the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program, although aspects of that financing have faced political scrutiny in Washington. Under the revised schedule, contractors will install deep-utility infrastructure in August, with vertical construction pencilled in for the first quarter of 2026. The plant is expected to open in 2028 and produce Rivian’s forthcoming R2 sport-utility vehicle and R3 hatchback. The company is also surveying existing and prospective suppliers in the Southeast with an eye to co-locating them near the site to strengthen its supply chain. Chief Executive Officer RJ Scaringe met Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in late May to discuss progress on the project and potential state collaboration. Rivian has begun advertising for construction and other roles linked to the factory as it moves to revive one of the largest industrial investments in Georgia’s history.