Jody Kerns, senior general assembly manager for the Tesla Cybercab program at Gigafactory Texas, is moving to Rivian to become general assembly manager for the R2 at the company’s plant in Normal, Illinois. The change comes weeks after commercial Cybercab rides began and as Rivian works to increase R2 production and deliveries.
Kerns announced his move in a LinkedIn post, referring to his experience at Tesla since joining the company in January 2024. He began as director of end-of-line operations, then took over leadership of Cybercab general assembly in Austin in February 2026, the same month the first Cybercab without a steering wheel came off the production line.
Experience Relevant to the R2 Challenge
Before Tesla, Kerns spent 14 years at Volkswagen of America, ending his tenure there as assembly director between 2021 and 2024. According to his professional profile, he managed approximately 1,200 employees and helped integrate Volkswagen ID.4 production into a line that built two other models. He also previously worked for four years in Toyota’s paint shops.
This background gives Rivian direct experience in introducing a new electric vehicle into an existing plant, a challenge faced specifically by the R2 program. Kerns said his goal at Rivian is to make the R2 “the best electric SUV on the market,” wording that reflects his personal ambition and does not represent an independent assessment of the vehicle’s performance.
Second Departure from the Cybercab Team
Kerns’s departure follows that of Michael So, who served as head of bringing the Cybercab into production between September 2024 and April 2026. So was the first employee at Gigafactory Texas in 2021 and participated in launching the Model Y and Cybertruck at the plant. He also credited himself with launching Cybercab features including the “unboxed” manufacturing process, the brake-by-wire system, and the butterfly doors.
So left Tesla in May to become vice president of product engineering at startup Aalo Atomics, which specializes in nuclear reactors. This second departure within a year shows that the Cybercab launch team has lost two leaders directly associated with production or bringing the product into manufacturing.
What Is Changing in Practice?
Commercial Cybercab rides began in Austin on September 3. A week later, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a special order requiring Tesla to provide proof, under oath, that a vehicle without a steering wheel or brake pedal meets federal safety standards. NHTSA estimates the 2026 robotaxi-services fleet, including the Model Y and Cybercab, at approximately 1,000 vehicles.
Meanwhile, Rivian began delivering the R2 on June 9 from its Normal plant. The company produced 19,751 vehicles during the third quarter while maintaining its 2026 delivery forecast at between 65,000 and 70,000 vehicles. Rivian has also already raised $1.5 billion, partly to reduce the risks associated with increasing production.
Kerns’s move alone does not establish the existence of an operational problem at Tesla or guarantee the success of the R2 program, but it highlights the importance of assembly-line management expertise as electric-vehicle companies move from prototypes to commercial production. The open questions remain tied to Tesla’s ability to continue expanding the Cybercab amid regulatory scrutiny and Rivian’s ability to turn the experience of its new leaders into stable R2 production and deliveries.