IRVINE, Calif. / Sep 01, 2023 / Business Wire / Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIVN) today announced it has appointed Dr. Kjell Gruner as its Chief Commercial Officer and President, Business Growth. Gruner is joining Rivian from Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), where he was most recently President and CEO. Gruner starts at Rivian today and will report directly to Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe. At Rivian, Gruner will oversee Rivian’s commercial function including Sales, Marketing, Customer Care, Delivery, Service, and Fleet.

Dr. Kjell Gruner brings with him 25 years of automotive experience, having spent time at both Porsche and Daimler/Mercedes-Benz. Prior to joining PCNA, Gruner was the Global Vice President Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer for Porsche, where he oversaw the development of the global Porsche brand, marketing and product. Gruner also spent more than six years at Daimler where he was the Director of Strategy for Mercedes-Benz Cars, and he worked for two years at the Boston Consulting Group.

Gruner serves on the board of Livewire, the electric motorcycle manufacturer, The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States, Inc., and The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the board of trustees at the Woodruff Arts Center.

RJ Scaringe, Founder and CEO, Rivian, said:
“We are very happy to welcome Kjell to the Rivian team as Chief Commercial Officer and President, Business Growth. We will rely on Kjell’s talent and experience as we position ourselves for growth domestically and internationally, the launch of a new platform in R2 at a new facility, and the continued success of our commercial vehicle line. I look forward to working closely together as we tackle this next great wave of opportunity.”

Dr. Kjell Gruner, Chief Commercial Officer and President, Business Growth, Rivian said:
“I am excited to join Rivian at this important time in its success story. Rivian has built an exceptional brand with two incredible consumer vehicles, the R1T and R1S, as well as category-defining commercial vans, at its core. As we build a strong brand, I look forward to chart paths into new markets, build new partnerships and customer experiences, and engage with our community while constantly embracing a clear and consistent strategy for the future.”

About Rivian:

Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN) exists to create products and services that help our planet transition to carbon neutral energy and transportation. Rivian designs, develops, and manufactures category-defining electric vehicles and accessories and sells them directly to customers in the consumer and commercial markets. Rivian complements its vehicles with a full suite of proprietary, value-added services that address the entire lifecycle of the vehicle and deepen its customer relationships. Learn more about the company, products, and careers at www.rivian.com.