Porsche Vehicles North America’s former prime government, Kjell Gruner, is claimed to be headed to the U.S. electrical automobile upstart Rivian Automotive, sources have instructed Automotive Information.
On July 5, Porsche stated Gruner was leaving the sports activities carmaker “at his personal request” after lower than three years on the job.
In his comparatively brief tenure as CEO, Gruner steered Porsche’s U.S. enterprise by the pandemic and set the model on monitor to hit a three-year gross sales excessive this 12 months.
Porsche instructed sellers it expects U.S. gross sales to hit 80,000 subsequent 12 months, up practically 15 % from 2022.
Gruner didn’t return a request for touch upon e-mail and LinkedIn this week.
When reached for remark, a Rivian spokesperson stated: “I haven’t got any data to supply right now.”
On Thursday, Germany’s Supervisor Magazin additionally reported that Gruner is predicted to take a job at Rivian.
Gruner’s position at Rivian is unknown, however the government is just not more likely to substitute founder RJ Scaringe as CEO.
With a advertising, operations and technique background at established auto manufacturers, Gruner may assist the EV maker in varied capacities. Earlier than his most up-to-date position, Gruner was Porsche’s chief advertising officer and international vice chairman of promoting.
Gruner joined Porsche in 1999 from Boston Consulting Group. In 2004, he left Porsche for Daimler, the place he rose to director of technique for Mercedes-Benz Vehicles earlier than returning to Porsche in 2010.
Gruner is well-suited to a public firm due to his background in advertising, a Porsche retailer stated.
“He is attuned to ever-changing shopper developments and is aware of which variants and fashions are more likely to transfer,” stated one of many sources, who requested to not be recognized.
Touchdown a prime government from an iconic automotive model, equivalent to Porsche, would convey cachet to Rivian, which seeks to “penetrate the excessive finish of the market,” stated George Gianarikas, Managing Director at Canaccord Genuity.
“Rivian has achieved a very good job of hiring individuals from conventional industrial operations but in addition from the expertise sector,” stated Gianarikas, who was unaware of Gruner’s reported transfer to Rivian.
No matter position the sneaker-wearing Gruner fills at Rivian, he ought to count on a problem.
Like different auto startups, Rivian is burning billions of {dollars} because it launches new fashions and invests in manufacturing and distribution capability.
Rivian posted a $1.35 billion first-quarter web loss on income of $661 million. Its inventory had shed 93 % of its worth this spring earlier than recovering on sturdy manufacturing facility output numbers this month.
The Amazon-backed automaker builds three automobiles in Regular, Ailing., — an electrical supply van, a pickup and a crossover — and it’s engaged on its subsequent automobile platform, R2, designed for inexpensive fashions.
In the meantime, Rivian is constructing a sprawling $5 billion meeting plant close to Atlanta whereas ironing out manufacturing points at its Illinois manufacturing facility.
Gruner’s hiring may sign that Rivian is making ready to maneuver past startup mode, stated Ivan Drury, Edmunds’ insights director.
“Having a seasoned automotive veteran with intimate information of promoting high-end merchandise will do wonders for the model,” Drury stated.
However Gruner goes into his new gig with eyes vast open.
In a LinkedIn put up saying his exit from Porsche, the manager wrote: “How will you go away Porsche??? An awesome group, an incredible model, nice merchandise! However generally there may be the subsequent mountain to climb.”