Rivian last week outlined a roadmap toward more autonomous electric vehicles, including new hardware, software, and longer-term plans that could extend to ride-hailing. (Confirmed)
At the company’s first Autonomy & AI Day in Palo Alto, California, CEO RJ Scaringe described upcoming features such as a hands-free driver-assistance system, custom silicon, and plans to integrate lidar sensors. The announcements come as Rivian prepares to begin production of its lower-priced R2 SUV, expected in the first half of 2026.
Rivian introduced “Universal Hands-Free,” a version of its driver-assistance software that the company said would operate on more than 3.5 million miles of roads in the United States and Canada. The system is designed to function on highways and marked surface streets and will be available on second-generation R1 trucks and SUVs. Rivian said it plans to launch the feature in early 2026, pricing it at a one-time $2,500 fee or a $49.99 monthly subscription. (Confirmed)
Scaringe said the company intends to expand the system over time toward what it calls “personal Level 4,” aligning with the Society of Automotive Engineers’ Level 4 definition, under which a vehicle can operate without human input in limited conditions. (Corroborated) He said Rivian’s longer-term plans could include entering the ride-hailing market, though the company’s near-term focus remains on vehicles for personal ownership.
To support its autonomy goals, Rivian said it is developing a “large driving model” to replace rules-based software and has built a custom 5-nanometer processor in collaboration with Arm and TSMC. The chip will power Rivian’s third-generation autonomy computer, known as ACM3. (Confirmed)
Rivian said ACM3 can process up to 5 billion pixels per second and is scheduled to debut in the R2 SUV in late 2026. The system will be paired with a lidar sensor mounted near the top of the windshield, though Rivian did not disclose the supplier.
The company said initial R2 models will not include ACM3 or lidar and will support hands-free driving only. More advanced eyes-off or unsupervised driving features would require vehicles equipped with lidar.
Rivian said it updated its announcement to clarify that eyes-off driving will not be supported without lidar sensors. (Confirmed)
