Tesla Cybercab Assembly Lead Leaves for Rivian R2 Program

Jody Kerns, Tesla’s Senior Manager of Cybercab General Assembly at Gigafactory Texas, is leaving the company to become Rivian’s Director of General Assembly for the R2 in Normal, Illinois. His departure marks the second time a key Cybercab launch leader has exited Tesla this year, occurring just weeks after the autonomous vehicle began commercial operations.

What Happened

Kerns announced the move in a LinkedIn post this week, thanking his Tesla team for their work on the Cybercab launch. He joined Tesla in January 2024 as an end-of-line manager and assumed responsibility for Cybercab general assembly in Austin in February 2026, the same month the first steering-wheel-less Cybercab rolled off the line. Prior to Tesla, Kerns spent 14 years at Volkswagen of America, where he managed approximately 1,200 people and integrated the ID.4 into the Chattanooga plant’s existing production lines.

Kerns’ exit follows the May departure of Michael So, Tesla’s Head of Cybercab New Product Introduction (NPI). So, who was Giga Texas employee #1 in 2021, left to become VP of Product Engineering at Aalo Atomics. So had overseen the Cybercab’s “unboxed” manufacturing process, brake-by-wire system, and butterfly doors before the vehicle carried a paying passenger.

Why It Matters

The timing of these departures presents challenges for Tesla’s autonomy ambitions. Commercial Cybercab rides started in Austin on September 3, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a Special Order a week later demanding proof that the vehicle, which lacks a steering wheel and brake pedal, meets federal safety standards. NHTSA currently estimates the combined 2026 Robotaxi fleet of Model Y and Cybercab units at approximately 1,000 vehicles.

Conversely, Rivian is leveraging this talent to stabilize the ramp-up for its R2 SUV. R2 deliveries began June 9, and Rivian produced 19,751 vehicles in Q3 while maintaining its 2026 delivery guidance of 65,000 to 70,000 units. Kerns’ background in integrating new EVs into running factories aligns directly with Rivian’s current operational needs, as the company has raised $1.5 billion partly to de-risk this production ramp.

The Bottom Line

Tesla faces increased assembly leadership turnover during a critical regulatory and production phase for the Cybercab, while Rivian secures experienced manufacturing leadership to support its R2 volume goals.