--- title: "Rivian Has Invested Millions In 3D Printing. Its Biggest Plans Are Still Ahead" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/303934263.md" description: "Rivian has invested over $5 million in 3D printing technology, scaling up operations at its Normal, Illinois factory to allow on-demand part production. This additive manufacturing strategy significantly accelerates development and reduces costs by cutting supplier tooling, logistics, and production times. The company aims to democratize access to 3D printing for all engineers, following similar trends among major automakers like Tesla and Ford." datetime: "2026-11-02T09:38:46.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/303934263.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/303934263.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/303934263.md) generator: "portal-rs" --- # Rivian Has Invested Millions In 3D Printing. Its Biggest Plans Are Still Ahead - Rivian is using additive manufacturing techniques to speed up development and production. - The startup has invested over $5 million in 3D printers so far. - After using 3D printers at its facility in Detroit, Rivian is scaling up the process, adding a bay of machines at its factory in Normal, Illinois. Additive manufacturing is helping automakers come up with design mock-ups faster and cheaper than ever before, and Rivian is going all in on the technology. The California startup has spent over $5 million on 3D printers, using the machines to build tangible prototypes of various parts significantly faster than going down the traditional route, which involves at least one external supplier and big, expensive stamping equipment. But Rivian is just getting started. In an interview with *CNBC*, Jared Beck, the startup’s head of additive manufacturing, said that the company doesn’t have a choice but to scale up and begin using it across all factions. “We’re going to be democratizing 3D printing for the entire company,” Beck said. So far, the R2’s maker has used 3D printers on a relatively small scale at its facility in Detroit, Michigan. The R2’s steering wheel was first printed using additive manufacturing before becoming a metal part. The technology has also been used to make electric motors for fluid testing, screw guides for tooling, stamping press inserts, and some production parts, like trim pieces, for early builds. For the next step, Rivian is installing new 3D printers that can build flexible silicone parts. At its factory in Normal, Illinois, where its entire lineup is being assembled, the startup is adding a bay of machines, enabling employees to print parts on demand. “3D prints should be readily available for every engineer so that they can make a part and get it in their hands as soon as possible,” said Beck for CNBC. ## Gallery: 2027 Rivian R2: First Drive 26 Source: Mack Hogan/InsideEVs Besides the $5 million spent on 3D printers, Rivian is also paying roughly $1.7 million for the raw materials used in the machines every year. That’s quite a big sum for something that may look like big toys, but in the end, it makes a lot of financial sense for the EV manufacturer. According to Beck, the cost savings have been “well in the millions” compared to traditional prototyping techniques, but more importantly, 3D printing speeds things up considerably. By building small batches of parts on-site, the car company can lower its supplier tooling costs, cut logistics expenses, and reduce production times from weeks to days, and sometimes hours. What do you think? View Comments Rivian isn’t the only car manufacturer that has leaned into additive manufacturing. Tesla, Ford, General Motors, and many others have been using the technology to make stuff faster and cheaper, thanks in large part to the 3D printing industry’s massive advancements. A decade ago, getting a 3D printer came with an eye-watering bill, but now, anyone can buy a machine for as little as a couple hundred dollars. The printers have also gotten smaller, faster, and more precise, enabling hobbyists and big companies to create bespoke parts in a matter of hours. Related Stories The Cadillac Celestiq Is So Fancy GM Had To Register 300 Patents To Build It Canada Unveils Project Arrow EV Concept With 3D-Printed Chassis Tesla Uses 3D Printing To Fix Mistake In Model Y HVAC Airbox Here's Where Slate Will Build Its $20,000 Electric Pickup Truck ![Motor1.com INSIDER - logo](https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cdn.motor1.com/custom/share/evus_newsletter_widget_logo.svg?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg) Stay informed with our newsletter every weekday back Subscribe For more info, read our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Insideevs.com? Take our 3 minute survey. \- The InsideEVs team Share this Story - Facebook - X - LinkedIn - Flipboard - Reddit - WhatsApp - E-Mail - copy GO TO COMMENTS ( ) Got a tip for us? 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