Rivian appointed Michael Schwaeble as Vice President of Logistics, the company announced Monday, bringing in a Mercedes-Benz veteran to oversee supply chain operations as the EV maker prepares to begin R2 production this year.
Schwaeble replaces Carlo Materazzo, who left the company last month January, according to the executive’s LinkedIn profile. It is unclear whether Materazzo departed voluntarily or was let go.
“As we gear up for the R2 launch later this year, he will oversee our end-to-end logistics strategy, ensuring our global supply chain and distribution networks are as efficient and sustainable as the vehicles we build,” Rivian wrote on LinkedIn.
The company said Schwaeble joins “at a defining moment” as it prepares to begin customer deliveries of the R2 by June.
Mercedes Background
Schwaeble spent nearly nine years at Mercedes-Benz US, most recently serving as Vice President of Supply Chain North America from April 2024 until now.
In that role, he led supply chain operations for Mercedes-Benz North America, overseeing inbound transportation, production program steering, warehouse management, and supply chain planning.
Previously, he served as Head of Supply Chain Planning from June 2023 to March 2024 and Chief Engineer of Operations from June 2021 to May 2023, where he was responsible for launching the electric vehicle platform EV All in the US.
Before his US roles, Schwaeble worked at Daimler Greater China Ltd. as Senior Manager of Supplier Quality from 2015 to 2017.
He began his career at Mercedes-Benz in 2007 as a working student and rose through various roles including Project Quality Engineer and Project Manager.
Predecessor’s Role
Materazzo said on LinkedIn that he oversaw end-to-end supply chain, logistics operations, and manufacturing at Rivian, managing a team of more than 6,000 people worldwide.
“Lead a significant cultural shift by applying lean principles to create a more agile and cost-effective production system and drive a comprehensive enhancement of manufacturing performances focused on safety, productivity, inventory and overall quality of our products,” his LinkedIn profile states.
Leadership Changes
The appointment follows a series of executive changes at Rivian.
Last month, the company named Greg Revelle as Chief Customer Officer to oversee the customer journey, leading go-to-market strategy including sales, marketing, and operations.
Revelle will also lead marketing operations after CEO RJ Scaringe said in October that Rivian was seeking a Chief Marketing Officer.
In 2024, Rivian saw four top executives leave in just eight weeks.
Chief Accounting Officer Jeffrey Baker resigned, followed three weeks later by Chief Commercial Officer and President for Business Growth Kjell Gruner after just eleven months.
Chief Communications Officer Sarah O’Brien and Vice President of Manufacturing Tim Fallon also departed.
Rose Marcario, former CEO of Patagonia, resigned from Rivian’s board effective January 1 to “focus on other commitments,” the company said in December.
She had served on the board since January 2021.
R2 Launch
The appointment comes as Rivian prepares to produce and launch the R2, a five-passenger SUV built on its midsize platform scheduled to hit the market in the first half of this year.
Rivian delivered fewer than 10,000 vehicles in the final quarter of 2025. Quarterly production stood at 10,974 vehicles, while full-year 2025 deliveries totaled 42,247 units, down by about 18% from 2024.
