Apple's DJ Novotney Joins Rivian, Bolstering EV Innovator with Silicon Valley Expertise

Apple veteran DJ Novotney is leaving the business to take on a new role at Rivian.

Apple Loses Experienced Hardware Engineering Executive To Rivian

Novotney, a vice president of hardware engineering, has been with Apple for more than 25 years, working on numerous generations of the iPod, iPhone, Apple Watch, and more.

Novotney is the second Apple executive to depart for Rivian this month. Earlier this month, it was disclosed that Jonas Reinke, Apple's head of product, mobility, and car services, had left to join Rivian as a vice president of product management.

According to Bloomberg, Novotney will join Rivian as senior vice president of vehicle programs, reporting directly to CEO RJ Scaringe.

“Great products are what we do best and I have been so very lucky along the way to be part of so many amazing teams that developed everything from iPod, iPhone, iPad, Watch and so many more. Apple has been my life, but now is the time for me to move on and help bring to life a new set of products,” Novotney wrote In a memo announcing his departure on Friday.

The report identifies Novotney as a "senior lieutenant to many of the company's top hardware engineering executives."

Novotney has worked on the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, as well as Apple's Project Titan electric car team. According to today's story, Novotney most recently became a senior executive in charge of developing future home devices, including some in the robotics and artificial intelligence spaces.

Rivian Hires Former Porsche And Apple employees to assist with R2, and R3 EV Platform Implementation

Meanwhile, Rivian is adding an industry veteran to its staff as it prepares to introduce its next-generation electric cars. Jonas Reinke, who formerly worked at Apple and Porsche, has joined Rivian to assist in the launch of the company's new EV platforms, including the R2 and R3.

In November, Rivian hired veteran Mercedes-Benz executive Arnehelm Mittelbach as the first plant manager for its new Georgia site, where R2 will be constructed, as per Electrek.

Mittelbach has almost 20 years of experience with Mercedes, having worked as a plant manager in East London and South Africa. He was also the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Vans in Charleston, South Carolina, and held many positions in Germany.

Less than two weeks later, Rivian hired Carlo Materazzo, a former Stellantis North America executive who had previously worked as the Vice President of Manufacturing. Rivian's COO, Frank Klein, called Materazzo's experience in auto manufacturing "second to none."

Photo: Rivian, LLC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons