Rivian Launches Universal Hands-Free Driving Feature

Rivian's Enhanced Driver Assistance System

Rivian is rolling out a significant update to its second-generation R1 EVs today. This update introduces the new “Universal Hands-Free” driving software, initially showcased last week during the company’s inaugural “Autonomy & AI Day.”

Expanded Hands-Free Driving

According to the company, this new functionality permits drivers to operate their vehicles without hands on the steering wheel across more than 3.5 million miles of roadways throughout the United States and Canada. This encompasses both highways and local streets, provided clear lane markings are present.

Despite the hands-free capability, drivers are still required to maintain supervision of the system. Importantly, the system is not designed to automatically respond to traffic control devices. It “will not stop or slow down for traffic lights or stop signs.”

Currently, Universal Hands-Free does not include automated turning or navigation following. Rivian specifies that the software will re-engage if the driver activates a turn signal and completes the maneuver manually.

A Step Towards Full Autonomy

This represents a notable advancement for Rivian, as the company strives towards achieving full vehicle autonomy within the coming years. However, it also introduces inherent risks.

Other automotive manufacturers, such as Tesla and Ford, offering comparable systems have experienced incidents, including crashes and fatalities, often linked to driver inattention while utilizing driver assistance features. These events have triggered investigations and legal action.

Significant Improvement Over Previous System

The software update substantially broadens the driver assistance features previously available to Rivian owners. Prior to this update, the hands-free driving system was limited to operation on only 135,000 miles of highways.

During last week’s event, Rivian outlined its plans to eventually enable its vehicles to navigate from “point-to-point” autonomously. However, the deployment of this feature is not anticipated until 2026.

Future Autonomy Hardware

Rivian is currently in the process of developing a new autonomy computer, incorporating custom silicon, specifically for its R2 SUV, scheduled for release in 2026. Combined with a roof-mounted lidar sensor, this hardware is intended to ultimately facilitate fully autonomous operation of the company’s vehicles, as stated by CEO RJ Scaringe.

Additional Software Features

Alongside the advancements in driver assistance, the software update released on Thursday includes several other enhancements. A new iteration of its digital key is now available, allowing second-generation R1 vehicle owners to add it to digital wallets on iPhones, Apple Watches, Google Pixels, and Samsung phones.

Furthermore, owners of quad-motor variants of the Gen 2 R1 EVs are receiving the highly anticipated “Kick Turn” feature, along with the “RAD Tuner” for customizable drive modes.