- Rivian plans to quickly catch up with rivals in the area of self-driving technology
- As soon as 2026, Rivian expects to have an eyes-off self-driving system—a technology only Mercedes offers at present
- Rivian is open to offering some of its technology to other automakers
Rivian plans major updates to its automated driving technology in the near future, its CEO, RJ Scaringe, has revealed.
Speaking at the opening of a Rivian store in San Francisco on Jan. 23, Scaringe said Rivian is working on technology that will enable supervised hands-free driving later this year, and eyes-off driving as soon as 2026. He said it’s a technology the company is “hyper-focused” on, Reuters reported.
Many automakers already offer supervised hands-free driving, which ranks at Level 2 on the SAE scale of self-driving capability, as they still require the driver to monitor and be ready to take back control at any time. Leading systems include General Motors’ Super Cruise, Ford’s BlueCruise, and Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised).
The next ranking, Level 3, refers to vehicles where the driver can take their eyes off the road but still needs to be ready to regain control at any moment. Mercedes is the only automaker with a Level 3 system currently available, known as Drive Pilot. However, the system is severely limited in the conditions under which it can operate. It is also only available for use on certain highways in California and Nevada due to regulatory constraints. GM and Stellantis have also announced plans to introduce Level 3 systems.
Rivian CEO and founder RJ Scaringe
Rivian already offers some automated driver-assist features on its latest R1T and R1S models, grouped in a suite known as the Rivian Autonomy Platform. These features can provide alerts and execute evasive maneuvers, such as steering adjustments and emergency braking, but they do not take full control of the vehicle.
Some of the technology Rivian is developing may also be implemented in vehicles from other brands. Speaking with Reuters at the San Francisco store opening, Rivian Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid said the software joint venture between Rivian and Volkswagen Group, established late last year, is already in talks with other automakers about supplying some of its software and electrical architecture technologies.
The joint venture is tasked with developing and supplying electrical architecture and software systems, including features such as network hardware and software stacks that enable vehicles to be updated over the air throughout their lifecycle—a concept known in the industry as a software-defined vehicle. The joint venture’s technology stands out due to its reduced wiring and component count, which helps to lower vehicle weight and streamline production. The first vehicle to use the joint venture’s technology will be Rivian’s R2 compact crossover, due in 2026. VW Group has stated that some Volkswagen models will likely be among the first to adopt the new systems, followed by models from Audi and VW Group’s new Scout EV brand.
This latest news comes shortly after Rivian secured a $6.6 billion Department of Energy loan this month, which the company plans to use for a second vehicle plant to be located close to Atlanta, Georgia.
