Tesla Cybercab General Assembly Lead Jody Kerns Leaves for Rivian R2 Role

Tesla's Senior Manager of Cybercab General Assembly at Gigafactory Texas, Jody Kerns, announced he is leaving the company to become Rivian's Director of General Assembly for the R2 in Normal, Illinois. Kerns is the second Cybercab launch leader to exit Tesla in 2026, following former Head of Cybercab New Product Introduction Michael So, who left the role in April and joined nuclear reactor startup Aalo Atomics in May. Kerns assumed control of Cybercab general assembly in February 2026, when the first steering-wheel-less unit rolled off the Austin line, overseeing final assembly through the September 3 start of commercial rides. The departure comes after NHTSA issued a Special Order a week after the September 3 commercial launch demanding proof under oath that the pedal-free and wheel-free vehicle meets federal safety standards, with NHTSA estimating Tesla's combined 2026 Model Y and Cybercab Robotaxi fleet at about 1,000 vehicles. At Rivian, Kerns joins an R2 production ramp that began deliveries on June 9, with Rivian producing 19,751 vehicles in Q3, maintaining 2026 delivery guidance of 65,000 to 70,000 units, and having raised $1.5B partly to de-risk the rollout.