Rivian names former Magna unit executive as operating chief

Rivian has named Frank Klein, a previous govt at Canadian vehicle elements maker Magna International’s device, as its chief operating officer, at a time when the electric powered carmaker has waned on its 2022 creation forecast.

In the course of his tenure at the Austria-primarily based device, Magna Steyr, Klein oversaw its shift to the electrical mobility manufacturing room, which include the creation of the initially electric powered automobile built by a contract producer, Rivian explained on Monday.

He earlier served in different administration positions at German carmaker Daimler AG for virtually 3 decades and was responsible for environment up the Mercedes-Benz plant in Kecskemét, Hungary.

Klein will be based in Ordinary, Illinois, where by Rivian at present produces its automobiles. The corporation last yr claimed it would track down its 2nd U.S-primarily based producing facility in Ga. Generation at the Georgia plant is slated for 2024.

Rivian past 7 days claimed offer-chain concerns could cut its prepared generation in fifty percent in 2022 to 25,000 motor vehicles.

Klein succeeds Rod Copes, who retired in December.

Amazon-backed Rivian recently lifted its costs by 20%, but rolled them back for orders booked before March 1 following a backlash.

(Reporting by Eva Mathews and Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru)