Rivian's Autonomy Push: Custom Silicon, Lidar, and Robotaxi Plans

Rivian's Path to Increased Vehicle Autonomy

Rivian unveiled its strategy on Thursday for advancing the autonomous capabilities of its electric vehicles. This ambitious undertaking incorporates both new hardware components, including lidar and bespoke silicon, and a potential future foray into the self-driving ride-hailing sector, as articulated by CEO RJ Scaringe.

Details from Autonomy & AI Day

The announcements made at the company’s inaugural “Autonomy & AI Day” in Palo Alto, California, provided new insights into Rivian’s technological progress. Much of this development has been conducted discreetly as the company prepares for the production of its more accessible R2 SUV, slated for the first half of 2026.

Rivian’s event also serves as a clear indication to investors that the company is maintaining, or even surpassing, the automated driving advancements of competitors such as Tesla, Ford, General Motors, and various automotive manufacturers from Europe and China.

Expanding Driver-Assistance Capabilities

Rivian announced plans to broaden the reach of its hands-free driver-assistance software to encompass “over 3.5 million miles of roads throughout the USA and Canada.” Future expansion will extend beyond highways to include city streets, contingent upon clearly marked road lines.

This enhanced access will be available on the company’s next-generation R1 trucks and SUVs, branded as “Universal Hands-Free,” and is scheduled for release in early 2026. Rivian will offer this feature for a one-time cost of $2,500 or through a monthly subscription of $49.99.

“This functionality will allow drivers to input a destination and have the vehicle navigate completely autonomously,” Scaringe explained on Thursday, describing a point-to-point navigation system.

Subsequently, Rivian intends to enable drivers to disengage from actively monitoring the road. “This will return valuable time to drivers, allowing them to utilize their phones or read while the vehicle operates independently,” Scaringe added.

Towards Personal L4 Autonomy

Rivian’s driver-assistance software development doesn’t conclude there. The EV manufacturer outlined plans to elevate its capabilities to what it terms “personal L4,” referencing the level defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers, signifying a vehicle’s ability to operate within a defined area without human intervention.

Scaringe also suggested that Rivian will explore competition with companies like Waymo. “While our primary focus remains on privately owned vehicles – which currently account for the majority of miles driven in the United States – this also opens avenues for participation in the ride-sharing market,” he stated.

Building a Driving Model and Custom Silicon

To facilitate these ambitious objectives, Rivian is constructing a “large driving model” – analogous to a Large Language Model (LLM) but tailored for real-world driving scenarios. This represents a shift away from the rules-based approach to autonomous vehicle development championed by Tesla.

The company also showcased its proprietary 5nm processor, developed in collaboration with both Arm and TSMC.

Introducing the ACM3

This custom chip powers Rivian’s third-generation “autonomy computer,” or ACM3. The new computer boasts a processing capacity of 5 billion pixels per second and will be integrated into Rivian’s forthcoming mass-market R2 SUV in late 2026.

Rivian will integrate the ACM3 with a lidar sensor positioned atop the windshield (sourced from an undisclosed vendor) to deliver “three-dimensional spatial data and redundant sensing.” This is intended to enhance “real-time detection for challenging driving situations.”

“We anticipate that upon launch in late 2026, this will represent the most potent combination of sensors and processing power in consumer vehicles in North America,” Vidya Rajagopalan, senior vice president of electrical hardware, declared at the event.

R2 Launch Details and Hardware Requirements

The R2 is scheduled to begin deliveries in the first half of 2026. Initial versions of the SUV will not include the ACM3 or the lidar sensor. Consequently, early R2 models lacking this hardware will likely be limited to hands-free driving functionality.

Drivers seeking eyes-off or, ultimately, unsupervised driving capabilities in a Rivian vehicle will require a model equipped with a lidar sensor.

“The addition of lidar creates the most comprehensive sensing system. It provides the most detailed 3D model of the vehicle’s surroundings,” explained James Philbin, vice president of autonomy and AI, on Thursday. “Our goal for the onboard sensing stack isn’t just human level, it’s superhuman level.”

Note: This article has been updated to clarify that Rivian will not offer eyes-off driving in vehicles without lidar sensors.