Electric vehicle startup Rivian’s production chief Fallon joins Stellantis
Rivian, known for its R1S SUVs and R1T pickups, has appointed Carlo Materazzo as head of logistics |
Rivian’s manufacturing chief is leaving the electric vehicle startup to join Stellantis, as the maker of Jeep SUVs and Ram pickup trucks prepares to launch a slate of battery-powered vehicles.
Tim Fallon will join Stellantis as head of North American manufacturing effective September 2, Stellantis said in a statement.
Rivian, known for its R1S SUVs and R1T pickup trucks, has appointed former Stellantis executive Carlo Materazzo as head of logistics to oversee production for the time being, CEO RJ Scaringe said in an internal email seen by Reuters.
Fallon’s departure comes at a crucial time for Rivian, which is expanding its sole factory in Normal, Illinois, to produce the smaller, cheaper R2 SUV, which many analysts see as crucial to the startup’s success as demand for electric vehicles slows.
Fallon, a former Nissan executive, oversaw an overhaul of Rivian’s manufacturing facility this year, which included a three-week shutdown of the Normal plant aimed at simplifying production and cutting costs. His move also comes weeks after Volvo veteran Javier Varela joined Rivian as chief operating officer.
“We’ve had several leaders as we approach different levels of scaling our business,” said a Rivian spokesperson, who confirmed Fallon’s departure. “We’re positioning the organizational structure for the future.”
Fallon joins Stellantis “as we enter this pivotal phase of our transformation… and this year marks the start of our electric vehicle offensive,” said Carlos Zarlenga, chief operating officer for North America.
The American-French-Italian automaker plans to launch 25 EV models in the U.S. by 2030. The company plans to soon launch a Jeep EV model in the U.S. that will cost less than $25,000, the CEO said this year.
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First publication: Aug 21, 2024 | 08:24 AM IST