Rivian’s Great EV Expectations Meet the Harsh Reality of Manufacturing

At Rivian Automotive Inc.’s factory in Normal, Ill., life is anything but.

Car factories around the world routinely churn out models around the clock. About eight months after production on Rivian’s electric trucks started, executives recently marked a milestone in uninterrupted work days: The company’s plant ran at full speed for an entire 10-hour work shift for the first time.