Tesla loses Cybercab assembly lead to Rivian R2 weeks after launch

Tesla’s Senior Manager of Cybercab General Assembly, Jody Kerns, is leaving the company to join Rivian as Director of General Assembly for the R2. Kerns was the second Cybercab launch leader to leave Tesla this year, following Michael So, who left in May to join a nuclear reactor startup. Kerns will take over the same role at Rivian, where he will help bring the R2 to commercial service. He previously worked at Volkswagen and Toyota, where he managed large-scale assembly operations. Kerns’ departure highlights the challenges of launching a new electric vehicle from scratch, as Rivian is in the middle of its ramp. The timing is not ideal for Tesla, as the company faces regulatory scrutiny over its Cybercab model.

• Kerns’ departure follows the departure of Michael So, who was Tesla’s Head of Cybercab NPI and helped launch the Cybercab’s unboxed manufacturing process.
• Kerns will lead Rivian’s R2 ramp, which is in the middle of its delivery timeline.
• Rivian has raised $1.5 billion to de-risk its ramp, and the company is preparing for a 2026 delivery guidance of 65,000 to 70,000 vehicles.
• Tesla faces regulatory pressure over its Cybercab model, which has been subject to a Special Order from NHTSA.
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