RJ Scaringe, founder and CEO of electric automaker Rivian, is taking on additional duties, leading all product development, according to an SEC regulatory filing last week. Scaringe will directly oversee all of Rivian’s product areas, including software, autonomy, design, vehicle, electrical, propulsion and programs, effective immediately.
Rivian’s outgoing chief product development officer, Nick Kalayjian, will take on the role of executive vice president, vehicle engineering and propulsion, before eventually shifting to an advisory role.
According to an internal email obtained by Reuters, Scaringe, who founded the company in 2009, said he wanted “to stay as close to the development of our products as possible.”
The expansion of Scaringe’s duties comes at a significant moment for Rivian, when the company is focused on extending its reach into the mainstream market by preparing for the launch of its R2 vehicle. Over the past two years, Rivian has made a name for itself with production of two high-end vehicles, the R1T pickup and R1S SUV, both priced over $70,000 and have long waitlists. The R1 models are among the most popular EVs in the U.S.
“We need to take that same brand excitement that we've generated, and apply it to a smaller form factor and a much lower price point,” said Scaringe, speaking about the R2 model in a July interview with Heatmap. The aim, he said, would be to “make [the R2] accessible to so many more people” than the pricier R1 models.
Scaringe also told Heatmap that the launch of the R2 model may be less complex than the R1 platform vehicles, as Rivian is “simplifying the launch,” focusing on just the one product and “leveraging a lot of the existing technology topology” that the company already has with the R1 vehicle.
Rivian is also slowly working to reach profitability. Third-quarter earnings show that losses, though still more than $1 billion each quarter, are shrinking as the company scales production and reduces costs. After announcing its Q3 results, Rivian raised its 2023 production forecast from 52,000 vehicles to 54,000.
Rivian’s recent leadership changes do not end with Scaringe and Kalayjian. Richard Farquhar, who was vice president of propulsion, will move to a new role as senior vice president of future R&D. In addition, Paul Frey, vice president of charging, energy and adventure products, will add battery development to his responsibilities, according to TechCrunch.
