Governor Greg Gianforte joined Rivian officials and community leaders in Belgrade this week to celebrate the opening of the company’s new 20,000-square-foot service and demo center, marking Rivian as the first electric vehicle manufacturer to invest in Montana.
“It’s great to welcome Rivian to Montana as the first electric vehicle manufacturer to invest in our state,” Gianforte said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “This grand opening isn’t just about a new building, it’s about opening the door to more good-paying jobs for Montanans and embracing innovation right here in Belgrade.”
Founded in 2009, Rivian has grown from its Florida origins to a California-based company with nearly 60 service centers across North America. The manufacturer produces all-electric trucks, SUVs, and commercial vans designed to blend adventure with sustainability.
Aubrey Coleman, Rivian’s State Affairs & Business Development Advisor, said Montana was a natural choice for expansion. “We chose this site because of the region’s thriving economy, its proximity to the airport, and its natural alignment with our brand’s mission to help people explore the world in a way that protects our future,” Coleman said. “As our owner community in Montana continues to grow, we’ve long wanted to provide a dedicated, local space for them, and with everyone’s help here today, we have now accomplished this.”
U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) joined Gianforte at the event, calling Rivian’s investment part of a larger trend of economic growth in Montana. “We have an economic renaissance going on in Montana – companies with great technology and opportunity are coming here to create good-paying jobs so our kids can grow up to stay here and work here,” Sheehy said.
The Rivian facility adds to a string of recent high-profile investments in Montana. In recent months, Gianforte has welcomed a $27 million investment from Amazon at its Belgrade operations facility and an $81 million investment from EquipmentShare at its new construction-technology and equipment-rental facility in Helena.
By: DNU staff