Rivian Lays Off Key Battery Development Team Members

Electric vehicle manufacturer shifts focus to R2 platform amid industry-wide cutbacks.

Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has reportedly laid off around 20 employees, predominantly from its long-range battery cell development team.
Among those terminated is Victor Prajapati, a former senior manager at Tesla, who led Rivian’s in-house battery cell development.
The layoffs come as Rivian shifts focus to its R2 platform, with production set to commence in 2026 and product unveilings expected in early 2024.
Rivian currently sources its battery cells from South Korea’s Samsung SDI and assembles them into packs at its facility in Normal, Illinois.
The layoffs follow similar cuts at other EV battery makers, including One Next Energy and LG Energy Solutions.