Key facts
- Rivian is facing a class action lawsuit over alleged false advertising of autonomous driving features for its R1T and R1S models.
- The lawsuit targets first-generation vehicles, claiming they were marketed with promises of Level 3 autonomy (hands-free, eyes-off driving).
- Plaintiffs allege Rivian falsely advertised its Driver+ system as standard and knew the vehicles could not achieve the promised capabilities.
- Statements by Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe are cited as evidence of the alleged misrepresentations.
- Rivian has declined to comment on the litigation.
- Second-generation R1 vehicles feature an upgraded 'Rivian Autonomy Platform' and offer hands-free driving capabilities.
Rivian is facing a class action lawsuit from owners who allege the electric vehicle manufacturer made false promises regarding the autonomous driving capabilities of its R1T truck and R1S SUV models. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, specifically targets first-generation models of these vehicles.
The lawsuit claims that Rivian represented these vehicles would be capable of hands-free, eyes-off driving, a designation known as Level 3 autonomy by the Society of Automobile Engineers. This level of autonomy means the vehicle can manage steering, acceleration, and braking without driver input under certain conditions, though the human driver must remain attentive.
Plaintiffs allege that over a five-year period and through a nationwide marketing campaign, Rivian falsely promised its hands-free driver assistance system, Driver+, would be standard in every vehicle. The suit cites statements made by Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe at TechCrunch Disrupt 2022 regarding the company's autonomous driving ambitions.
The complaint asserts that Rivian knew its first-generation vehicles would never achieve Level 3 autonomy but continued to promote these capabilities to encourage purchases. Rivian has declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation.
Second-generation R1 vehicles, overhauled in 2024, feature the 'Rivian Autonomy Platform' as standard, equipped with 11 cameras and five radar sensors, and a computer ten times more powerful than the previous system. These newer models offer features like adaptive cruise control and highway assist, and Rivian has rolled out 'Universal Hands-Free' driving via software updates for these vehicles.
Rivian is not the only automaker to face legal challenges over self-driving feature claims; Tesla and CEO Elon Musk have also been sued by owners for failing to deliver on promises of fully autonomous driving, and Tesla has faced regulatory scrutiny from the California Department of Motor Vehicles for deceptive marketing of its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software.