ROCKLEDGE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rivian Automotive announced today that Peter Stevens, a world-renowned automotive designer, will join the company as director of design.
Stevens joins Rivian’s design team to champion the vehicle’s design development. Stevens will orchestrate styling on the highly flexible vehicle platform. The vehicle platform facilitates the creation of an iconic looking design.
Excited about Rivian’s new addition, Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe commented, “Peter’s design ethos and creative passion fit perfectly with Rivian. We’re creating a company to build truly inspiring cars that eliminate compromise - bringing on Peter Stevens is a homerun.”
“It is very seldom that a designer gets an opportunity to be involved from the earliest stages in a truly creative project,” says Stevens. “Our design philosophy is to confirm to the purchaser that this is a company that knows its customers to be enlightened people who share the same ideals as Rivian. Those customers, like the team at Rivian, want their driving experiences to be entertaining, and their purchase to be visually appealing.”
Prior to joining Rivian, Stevens has worked with several top auto manufacturers. His resume includes work for BMW, Jaguar, Lotus, General Motors, Volvo, MG-Rover and Subaru; as well as Virgin Atlantic and Sunseeker Marine. Among his accomplishments, Stevens created the body, interior and aerodynamics for the acclaimed McLaren F1. While serving as director of product and design at MG Rover, Stevens’ work earned him the 2002 Automotive Designer of the Year award by AutoCar Magazine. Other high-profile vehicles he has designed include the 1999 Le Mans-winning BMW, the Jaguar XJR-15, the Lotus Espirit and Elan, and the world-record breaking MG ZT-T, which reached 225.609 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats in 2003.
In addition to leading the development on a number of highly regarded cars, Peter has led the Design Studios for McLaren, MG Rover and Lotus throughout his career. He has also launched design studios for several international companies.
Stevens studied automotive design at the Royal College of Art and graduated as a master of design. He continues as a visiting professor at the university.
“A Rivian vehicle will always have a distinctive look, a style all of its own. The look will take advantage of the innovative frame construction method and celebrate the design opportunities suggested by that architecture.”
Rivian’s platform flexibility allows a variety of powertrain options including advanced gasoline, diesel-electric and plug-in electric construction.
Founded in 2009, Rivian Automotive is a performance-centered automotive company committed to rethinking the way vehicles are designed, manufactured and sold. The company is focused on the development and production of affordable, ultra-efficient green performance vehicles. For more information, visit www.RIVIAN.com.