Rivian has hired a former Tesla manufacturing executive to oversee production of its R2 electric SUV, bringing in someone with direct experience launching Tesla’s Cybercab robotaxi.
Rivian has brought in Jody Kerns from Tesla, where he ran Cybercab general assembly at Giga Texas, to head R2 general assembly in Normal, Illinois.
Kerns confirmed the move on LinkedIn, writing, “I am looking forward to starting my next adventure as Director of General Assembly with Rivian, supporting the R2 program in Normal, Illinois.”
“Our goal is ambitious: to help make the Rivian R2 the best electric SUV in the market,” he added.
From Tesla’s Cybercab to Rivian’s R2
According to his LinkedIn profile, Kerns started at Tesla in early 2024 and moved up to oversee the Cybercab assembly line this year. Before that, he spent more than 14 years at Volkswagen, holding several manufacturing leadership positions, as well as four years at Toyota.
The leadership change comes at an important time for Rivian as it works to increase R2 production. The company recently introduced a second manufacturing shift at its Normal factory, with a third planned for 2027. Its expanded facility has an annual production capacity target of 215,000 vehicles, including up to 155,000 R2 SUVs.
R2 production ramp continues
The hire comes after a record Q3 of 19,248 deliveries; Rivian is targeting 65,000–70,000 vehicles for 2026, of which 20,000–25,000 should be R2s.
However, CEO RJ Scaringe has acknowledged that supplier readiness, rather than factory capacity, remains the biggest obstacle to increasing production.
Kerns’ arrival gives Rivian another experienced manufacturing executive as it attempts to scale production of its more affordable SUV, a vehicle expected to play a major role in the company’s long-term growth.
Related Articles:
- Rivian Beats Wall Street Estimates With Record Q3 2026 Deliveries
- Rivian confirms removal of R2 seat ventilation fans to reduce cabin noise
- Rivian recalls 14 R2 SUVs over potential loss of drive power
- Rivian to relocate manufacturing engineers to Illinois factory to accelerate production: Report
Always get the latest - make Drive Tesla your preferred source on Google
Are you buying a Tesla? If you enjoy our content and we helped in your decision, use our referral link to get three months of Full Self-Driving (FSD).Drive Tesla uses affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
