Rivian represents one of the most exciting and refreshing automotive manufacturers for many people. The Rivian R1T and R1S highlight so many changes consumers have been looking for for a while. However, the budding EV maker has struggled to scale its production to meet the demand. Between COVID lockdowns, supply chain issues, raising prices, and shipping issues, Rivian’s massive stock valuation has plummeted. Now making things worse, the Rivian plant has a bug problem. 

Rivian has bedbugs

According to Carscoops, Rivian’s manufacturing plant has received multiple reports of bedbugs. The senior manager of plant communications, Zach Dietmeier, confirmed with The Pentagraph that the company had received reports of bedbugs on forklifts in one section of the plant. 

Dietmeier says Rivian has quarantined the affected forklifts and has had pest control professionals treat them. The spokesperson also mentioned that transport shuttles, other forklifts, and various other vehicles had been isolated and treated to stop the outbreak. The plan would have the plant completely treated by the end of the month. 

How long did Rivian have bedbugs?

Carscoops found a Reddit user who claims to be an employee, saying that the Rivian plant had bedbugs for at least a week before the company did anything about it. The user alleges that Rivian knew and reacted too slowly. 

“Just thought anyone that works there should be told since they’re trying to keep it hush hush and just throw garbage bags over [the forklift seats] for people to sit on,” another employee wrote, expressing their concern and irritation. 

“Nobody really wants to bring bedbugs home,” the employee said. “Like, I don’t know what would happen if somebody did actually bring bedbugs home with them… I doubt Rivian would pay for fumigation of personal property.”

When will Rivian’s production woes come to an end?

Automotive production has been in a state of chaos for the past two years now. Following the onset of COVID, basically all automotive manufacturing has suffered. Plants getting shut down started the log jamb, which was secured by the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage. With Rivian already suffering from all these issues plus the normal growing pains of being an automotive startup, issues like this bedbug outbreak are daggers in the already limping company. 

Rivian claims that the facilities are safe and being treated for bedbugs. The company further urges employees to report any evidence of bedbugs for investigation. However, Rivian also warned employees against spreading misinformation.