EV maker Rivian has employed a prime government from a serious auto provider as its subsequent COO, in keeping with individuals accustomed to the matter, an effort to get its troubled manufacturing operations again on monitor.

Rivian has struggled to ramp up manufacturing, citing provide chain constraints corresponding to a scarcity of semiconductors. To assist deal with these manufacturing snags, it has chosen Frank Klein, the pinnacle of the car-making unit at Canada’s Magna Worldwide Inc., mentioned the individuals, who declined to be named.

A consultant for Rivian declined to remark.

Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe advised analysts Thursday {that a} COO could be named subsequent week, saying the brand new government would deal with scaling up the corporate’s manufacturing and provide chain operations.

“With our 2022 priorities, we have been very centered on making certain we’ve the precise staff working in the direction of our mission,” Scaringe mentioned on a convention name.

The EV-maker is intently adopted and backed by an extended listing of stellar buyers. But it surely has struggled since a blockbuster November IPO, as elements shortages and manufacturing hiccups have pummeled the inventory. Rivian has been with no COO for the reason that starting of the 12 months when Rod Copes stepped down after lower than two years on the job.

Klein, who didn’t reply to a request for remark, has been at Magna Steyr since April 2019, in keeping with his LinkedIn profile.

Since July 2020, he has been president of Magna Steyr, the corporate’s contract vehicle-manufacturing arm. Previous to that, he spent 25 years with Daimler AG.

Magna spokeswoman Tracy Fuerst declined to remark.

Rivian expects to construct 25,000 automobiles in 2022, together with two client fashions and a battery-electric supply van for investor and buyer Amazon, lower than half of deliberate capability at its Regular, In poor health., manufacturing unit, which the corporate has blamed on provide chain constraints.