Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian Automotive has received an $827 million incentive package from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which the company said will allow it expand operations at its plant in Normal, Ill.

Rivian said the funds will also go toward improvements in public infrastructure and job training programs for Rivian’s workforce leading up to production of the R2 midsize SUV. The company will participate in several city improvement projects, it said, to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to investing in the Illinois economy and community.

“The support from the state will allow us to quickly bring our midsize SUV R2 to market and provide even greater consumer choice for EVs,” Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said in a news release. “Gov. [J.B.] Pritzker has always been a strong advocate for providing economic opportunities for Illinois residents and business owners alike. We look forward to continuing our close partnership and building on the success we have enjoyed.”

Pritzker thanked “our partners at Rivian” for having “doubled down on their investment in Illinois. Together, we’re taking a tremendous step forward for our electric vehicle ecosystem, for our economy and for our state. Each and every dollar invested in this market is a win for the working people of Illinois and brings us a step closer to meeting our ambitious climate goals.”

In March, Rivian announced it will begin production of the R2 in the Normal manufacturing facility. The existing plant in Normal will continue to produce R1S, R1T and commercial electric delivery vehicles as updates to the facility begin in the coming months.

Rivian said it has invested more than $2 billion in Normal, where it has manufactured more than 100,000 EVs since production began in 2021.

Javier Varela named new COO

Rivian has named Javier Varela as chief operations officer, focusing on optimizing operational efficiencies, including production of the R2.

Varela will begin his new role in August and will report directly to founder and CEO RJ Scaringe. He succeeds Frank Klein, who is stepping down after two years of leading the buildout of Rivian’s operations and scaling vehicle production of the EDV and R1 programs.

“Rivian’s commitment to pushing the industry forward with technologically advanced, highly innovative vehicles is something I’ve admired for a long time,” Varela said. “I’m looking forward to helping the company scale and continue to innovate as it rolls out R2 and its next generation of vehicles.”

Varela previously was COO and deputy CEO of Volvo Cars, leading the engineering, program management, manufacturing, supply chain and procurement organizations. He oversaw the company’s three main regions, including 14 industrial sites, engineering sites and tech hubs worldwide.

Rivian said Varela will be central to the company’s growth and profitability, overseeing operations including procurement, manufacturing, logistics and quality.

Scaringe praised Varela’s “strong background in engineering, program management and innovation and a proven track record of success across a range of operating environments” said he looks forward to Varela “bringing his deep experience in the automotive industry to Rivian, as we are focused on profitability, operational excellence and delivering R2 to customers as soon as possible.”