EV maker Rivian (RIVN) introduced Friday it has employed Dr. Kjell Gruner as chief industrial officer (COO) and president of enterprise progress. Gruner brings over 25 years of auto expertise to Rivian, most lately serving as CEO of Porsche Vehicles North America.

Rivian hires ex-Porsche, Mercedes-Benz exec as COO

Gruner began at Rivian on Friday and can report on to CEO RJ Scaringe. He’ll oversee the EV maker’s industrial operations, similar to gross sales, advertising and marketing, supply, service, fleet, and supply.

The chief has over 25 years of expertise, together with at Porsche and Mercedes-Benz/Daimler.

Earlier than becoming a member of Porsche Vehicles North America, Gruner was Porsche’s international vp of selling and chief advertising and marketing officer. At Porsche, Gruner oversaw international model improvement, together with advertising and marketing and product.

Previous to that, Gruner labored because the director of technique at Mercedes-Benz Vehicles for over six years. He additionally serves on the board of LiveWire, the electrical motorbike division of Harley-Davidson.

Scaringe commented on the hiring, saying:

We’re very completely satisfied to welcome Kjell to the Rivian workforce as Chief Business Officer and President, Enterprise Development. We are going to depend on Kjell’s expertise and expertise as we place ourselves for progress domestically and internationally, the launch of a brand new platform in R2 at a brand new facility, and the continued success of our industrial automobile line. I sit up for working carefully collectively as we deal with this subsequent nice wave of alternative.

Gruner joins Rivian at a important time because the EV maker ramps up manufacturing and works to extend profitability.

Rivian crushed expectations within the second quarter, delivering 12,640 fashions whereas producing 13,992 EVs at its Regular, Illinois facility. As well as, its electrical supply vans, utilized by Amazon, arrived in Europe in July, spearheading the EV maker’s worldwide growth.

The EV maker launched its in-house Enduro drive models, with Rivian’s cheaper “Twin Motor” and “Efficiency Twin Motor” showing within the R1 store in July.

The brand new in-house elements are serving to to streamline manufacturing whereas lowering bills. Rivian stated the Enduro drive models and LFP battery packs have decreased enter prices on its EDV by roughly 25%.

Rivian’s gross revenue per automobile improved by $35,000 throughout the second quarter because the EV maker labored to extend profitability.

Total, the EV maker’s losses proceed to shrink with a web lack of (-$1.12 billion) in Q2 in comparison with (-$1.7 billion) final yr and (-$1.4 billion) final quarter. After the sturdy efficiency, Rivian raised its manufacturing steering for the yr to 52,000 models.

Electrek’s Take

Gruner is becoming a member of Rivian because the EV maker hits a “turning level” in manufacturing. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, identified for his Tesla protection, stated Rivian was hitting “a serious turning level” after Q2, elevating his value goal because of this.

Extra lately, Ives stated he sees Rivian as “one of many core EV gamers over the following decade.” Gruner brings precious advertising and marketing and model improvement expertise from Porsche and Mercedes-Benz that may assist Rivian because it expands the model throughout a vital interval.