Rivian names Magna Steyr executive Frank Klein as operating chief

EV maker Rivian Automotive has named Frank Klein, a former executive at Magna International, as its chief operating officer.

During his tenure at Magna's Austria-based unit, Magna Steyr, Klein oversaw its shift to the electric mobility manufacturing space, including the production of the first electric vehicle made by a contract manufacturer, Rivian said on Monday.

He previously served in various management positions at Daimler for nearly three decades and was responsible for setting up the Mercedes-Benz plant in Kecskemet, Hungary.

Klein was named one of Automotive News Europe's Eurostars in 2021 for his work in expanding Magna Steyr's contract manufacturing business.

Magna Steyr production includes the full-electric Jaguar I-Pace, the Mercedes G-Class and the Fisker Ocean SUV.

Klein will be based in Normal, Illinois, where Rivian currently produces its vehicles. The company last year said it would locate its second U.S-based manufacturing facility in Georgia. Production at the Georgia plant is slated for 2024.

Rivian last week said supply-chain issues could cut its planned production in half in 2022 to 25,000 vehicles.

Klein succeeds Rod Copes, who retired in December.

Amazon-backed Rivian recently raised its prices by 20 percent, but rolled them back for orders booked before March 1 following a backlash.

Bloomberg contributed to this report