Rivian Will Add Hands-free Driver Assist To Vehicles This Year, ‘eyes-off’ Next Year

Rivian is readying to motorboat a hands-free driving adjunct strategy for its electrical R1T and R1S vehicles later this year, followed by an “eyes-off” type successful 2026, reveals Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe successful a spot roundtable mobility and reply according to a position connected Rivian Forums and reported by Electrek. The first information of nan strategy sounds for illustration it will activity likewise to Ford’s Blue Cruise aliases GM’s Super Cruise software, which are Level 2 assistants that only activity connected highways afloat mapped by each manufacturer.

It’s unclear if existent Gen 1 and Gen 2 Rivian vehicles will support nan upcoming hand-free adjunct package aliases if it will recreation to upgraded models aliases nan upcoming R2 SUV.

Gen 2 vehicles already recreation pinch exclusive features for illustration matrix headlights and an upgraded ray barroom that tin alteration colors, which Scaringe says could beryllium utilized arsenic an parameter to fto others cognize a Rivian is operating autonomously, according to a Rivian Forum user. Gen 2 vehicles too recreation pinch a newer Rivian Autonomy Platform, which mightiness mean Gen 1 vehicles aren’t going to get immoderate of nan upcoming precocious ADAS features.

Currently, Rivian trucks personification disposable “Driver Plus” precocious driver adjunct systems (ADAS) that activity likewise to Tesla’s modular Autopilot package successful that they alteration lane keeping and car velocity up / slow down connected highways. However, for illustration different Level 2 systems, you still petition to net attraction to nan road.

In an email to The Verge, Rivian’s merchandise communications manager, Courtney Richardson, confirms Scaringe’s comments astir nan upcoming ADAS upgrades successful nan mobility and reply yesterday. Richardson says location are nary further specifications to adhd astatine this time. Currently, only Mercedes-Benz ships a Level 3 autonomous strategy that useful successful immoderate states successful nan US, which allows drivers to look distant from nan road.