Rivian COO Shares Plan to Scale to 100,000 Vehicles

Rivian is proving that speed and discipline can work together to reshape the future of electric vehicles.

Chief Operating Officer Javier Varela recently opened up about the company's bold journey from startup to major manufacturer in an interview on the Cars & Culture podcast with Jason Stein. His message was clear: moving fast doesn't mean cutting corners.

Varela, who made the leap from legacy automakers to Rivian, brought a fresh perspective on what makes the electric vehicle company unique. The difference, he says, comes down to "startup speed" and a willingness to embrace a "try fast" mentality that traditional car manufacturers often avoid.

The numbers tell an impressive story. Rivian is working to scale production from 10,000 vehicles to over 100,000, a tenfold increase that would challenge any manufacturer.

But Varela emphasizes that technology alone won't get them there. The real secret weapon is the people and the culture of discipline they're building together at the company.

Why This Inspires

In an industry often dominated by century-old companies resistant to change, Rivian represents a new approach to making things. The company is proving you don't have to choose between innovation and quality, or between speed and reliability.

Their upcoming R2 vehicle represents the next chapter in making electric transportation accessible to more people. By combining manufacturing excellence with the agility of a startup, Rivian is showing that newcomers can compete with established giants.

Varela's insights offer a rare glimpse into how a modern manufacturer thinks differently. Instead of endless planning and slow rollouts, they test ideas quickly, learn from results, and adapt.

The future of transportation is being built by teams willing to move fast and build things that matter.