Tesla’s Cybertruck Supply Chain Chief Departs for Rivian Amid Production Pressures
Tesla’s ambitious Cybertruck launch faces a fresh headwind: Mustapha El Akkari, the company’s group manager of raw materials and a crucial figure in Cybertruck’s supply chain, has left Tesla to join rival Rivian as Senior Director of Structures and Raw Materials (Gizmodo, PC-Tablet).
During his 4.5-year tenure at Tesla, El Akkari was responsible for managing approximately $16 billion in raw material procurement—particularly for high-cost components like stainless steel and aluminum used in Cybertruck manufacturing (The Verge, Carscoops, HNGN – Headlines & Global News). His exit comes at a pivotal moment: Tesla had planned to begin production of the Cybertruck in summer 2023, with volume production slated for 2024 (The Verge, finance.yahoo.com, HNGN – Headlines & Global News).
His move to Rivian injects seasoned supply chain leadership into the EV maker as it ramps up production across its R1 T, R1 S, and upcoming R2 models (Carscoops, InsideEVs).
Industry watchers are divided. While Tesla has extensive systems and redundancies in place, the timing is less than ideal. Some argue that high-level talent pull—especially in critical phases of new product rollout—can disrupt momentum, even if organizational structures remain intact (cybertruckownersclub.com, rivianownersforum.com).
Meanwhile, Rivian appears to be building strategic muscle by attracting seasoned Tesla execs—El Akkari joins a cadre that includes former senior Tesla engineering leads Charly Mwangi and Nick Kalayjian (Gizmodo, Carscoops, HNGN – Headlines & Global News).
As Tesla presses forward with Cybertruck, this leadership shakeup adds a layer of uncertainty to a project already marked by delay. Meanwhile, Rivian stands to benefit significantly from his experience—especially if he catalyzes improvements in supplier efficiency and raw materials strategy.
