Key facts
- Rivian plans to release a supervised self-driving system similar to Tesla's FSD later this year.
- This system will enable point-to-point driving with supervision.
- The technology will be available for Rivian's second-generation cars and the new R2.
- Unsupervised, hands-free driving is expected in 2027.
- Rivian has a deal with Uber for up to 50,000 R2s for robotaxi aspirations.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe announced that the company is on track to release a supervised self-driving system, comparable to Tesla's Full Self-Driving, later this year. This advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) will allow Rivian's second-generation vehicles and the new R2 to drive point-to-point with supervision.
During a fireside chat at the Masters of Scale conference, Scaringe stated that the technology will be rolled out to all Gen 2 vehicles and the R2. This represents a significant upgrade from Rivian's current Universal Hands-Free system, which operates on clearly marked roads but does not handle turns, traffic lights, or parking lots.
Scaringe also indicated that unsupervised, hands-free driving is planned for release in 2027. Rivian's strategy includes developing autonomous driving capabilities for robotaxi fleets, evidenced by a $1.25 billion deal with Uber, which could purchase up to 50,000 R2 vehicles for its robotaxi ambitions.