Rivian CPDO out. RJ to now directly oversee product development (including quality & reliability)

[evhelphub]

https://www.reuters.com/business/au...-responsibility-product-functions-2023-11-20/

CPDO Nick Kalayjian (former Tesla VP) is transitioning to a lesser role and will be out in 2024. RJ Scaringe will now directly oversee product development, including the quality and reliability teams.

I'm hopeful this leads to a big improvement in QC at the factory.

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[The_Frog]

That botched 42 OTA update...

 

[Donald Stanfield]

That's a good thing

 

[NineElectrics]

I'm all for ditching the Tesla influence.

 

[NineElectrics]

That botched 42 OTA update...

I would blame the VP of software for that one. Disasters like that aside, I find Rivian software quality to be mid.

 

[Tr4ckD4ys]

https://www.reuters.com/business/au...-responsibility-product-functions-2023-11-20/

CPDO Nick Kalayjian (former Tesla VP) is transitioning to a lesser role and will be out in 2024. RJ Scaringe will now directly oversee product development, including the quality and reliability teams.

I'm hopeful this leads to a big improvement in QC at the factory.

It could also have the opposite effect... a CEO spread too thin across roles creates problems in areas of lesser focus.

 

[DuoRivians]

It could also have the opposite effect... a CEO spread too thin across roles creates problems in areas of lesser focus.

Rivian has hired a lot of top c-suite people lately, eg from Porsche, Stellanis. I think RJ owning product is a step in a better direction

 

[Tr4ckD4ys]

Rivian has hired a lot of top c-suite people lately, eg from Porsche, Stellanis. I think RJ owning product is a step in a better direction

Yes - owning product is great but something’s gotta give. Where is this attention for product going to come from? That’s what I’m saying. Either way! Great company!

 

[The_Frog]

I would blame the VP of software for that one. Disasters like that aside, I find Rivian software quality to be mid.

Possibly. I am not sure how the company is structured but I would think software falls under "product" to avoid the HW vs. SW "debate" (ie finger pointing), just like the aero vs. engine sides of an F1 team.

And I agree 100%. Software is not bad, but there is (a lot of) room for improvements. Hopefully, those will come.

 

[iansriv]

So, 65 pages gets someone fired.

 

[DuoRivians]

Yes - owning product is great but something’s gotta give. Where is this attention for product going to come from? That’s what I’m saying. Either way! Great company!

What I meant was that by hiring top talent for other important company functions, this could allow RJ to focus more time on product.

 

[Supratachophobia]

I'm all for ditching the Tesla influence.

It's not a black or white issue nor is it Tesla bad/Rivian good. There were some very toxic environments at Tesla that included unrealistic timeframes/hours, yelling/berating employees, and lots of passing up internal hires for outside hires.

Is their CEO hot garbage on his best day? Yeah. Do the CEOs underlings know his volitility is heavily influenced by whether or not he's getting laid? Yeah.

But.... Tesla showed us that an EV company could be successful, and dare I say, influential/inspiring to other automotive companies. They made it work despite the above problems and probably because they had more good than bad slotted in there.

 

[kayabusa]

wait ! there was a quality control problem ???? No way !!! my Rivian is perfect.

 

[R1Tom]

wait ! there was a quality control problem ???? No way !!! my Rivian is perfect.

Many on here have argued that they are as good as Tesla, BMW, Mercedes, etc... only the complainers post....early adopter tax..... first world problems....blah blah blah.... yet the service centers aren't backed up with ghost Rivians....At least it is apparent Rivian recognizes it and is addressing it. Head in sand isn't going to work long term and the drop off in demand likely at least has all these internet concerns included as a factor.

I think RJ is an amazing individual and have complete confidence he will make the improvements needed.

 

[COdogman]

wait ! there was a quality control problem ???? No way !!! my Rivian is perfect.

Literally everyone here, including those of us who have had zero problems with our Rivians, have said all along Rivian needs to improve quality control. This is obviously an effort to do better.

So I’m not sure who your performance is for?

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