Rivian Reveals New AI Assistant, Lidar, and Autonomous Driving Coming in 2026

Attempting to leapfrog competitors ahead of a crucial vehicle launch and a race to integrate AI and advanced driver assistance systems, Rivian revealed its latest hands-free driving system with better highway mapping, a custom processor, lidar, and a voice assistant as it prepares for the launch of its more mainstream R2 midsize electric SUV with an estimated $45,000 starting price.

At a Palo Alto event on Thursday, Rivian detailed the advances its in-house system has made over the second-generation system, released a year ago, on its large R1S SUV and R1T pickup truck. And in introducing new features and software, it’s also keeping existing customers in the fold by making updates available to its older models.

Rivian has been working on its own AI technology for a few years now, its founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said. While learning from earlier reliance on outside suppliers and being tied to the same cost fluctuations as its rivals, Rivian’s focus now is on bringing its costs down and keeping its technology under its own control so it can adapt to what its customers want based on their driving habits.

With that, the new Large Driving Model will have a hands-free driving assistant on an estimated 3.5 million miles of U.S. roads with point-to-point destination service, rather than the roughly 150,000 miles on the existing system. That’s also more than what current systems like General Motors’ SuperCruise and Ford’s BlueCruise offer.

Rivian’s Autonomy+ will launch next year, priced at a $2,500 one-time fee or $49.99 per month.

Eventually, an eyes-off version of the new system will be introduced on the R1 and R2 vehicles. 

“This gives you your time back,†Scaringe said at the event. You can be on your phone or reading a book, no longer needing to be actively involved in the operation of the vehicle.â€

A Level 4 autonomous function would also allow Rivian to compete in the quickly growing autonomous “robotaxi†space from Waymo, Zoox, and Uber, which use vehicles from various automakers, although Scaringe stopped short of committing to any future plans.

“While initial focus will be on personal vehicles, the majority of the vehicles on the road, it allows us to pursue opportunities in the rideshare space,†he said.

The system is made possible by the company’s extensive development of the third-generation Rivian Autonomy Processor using a self-developed Autonomy Computing module. On the R2, it will incorporate 11 cameras with 65 megapixels, 5 radar sensors, and a new lidar sensor. The whole system, however, isn’t due until late 2026, so it won’t be on the first R2s that roll off the Illinois production line.

The California-based electric SUV and pickup truck company made these announcements at a critical time as it hinges on new products and a lucrative tie-up with Volkswagen Group to stay afloat amid increased consumer interest in hybrid and range-extended electrics and deep concerns over vehicle affordability. For now, though, Rivian’s AI and autonomous strategy will stay focused on its vehicles.

Bringing its own chips and a lower-cost lidar to its mid-priced R2 vehicle is crucial for Rivian’s step out of the high-end and niche EV market, and a potential blow to larger chip makers like Nvidia.

The company also took two digs at other automakers, especially Volvo, with lidar missteps that resulted in noticeable cost and design compromises. Volvo subsequently removed the lidar sensor and resultant roof-mounted “taxi cab†bump on the 2026 EX90 and ES90 SUVs after the added hands-free capability failed to materialize.

Also, as expected, Rivian revealed its own AI Assistant. Rivian Assistant, debuting early next year. As with most systems of this type, it will integrate third-party apps like Google Calendar, but it also incorporates a talk-to-text system rather than the canned responses that some companies still use. 

Similar to systems like Google Gemini (which Rivian leans on here) being implemented by some automakers, Rivian Assistant also tries to create more natural ways to do things like give destination or restaurant recommendations, estimate time of arrival, and even run vehicle diagnostics. The latter provides more vehicle integration than simply adding on another company’s system and presents an opportunity for greater use on future generations, the company said.

Notably, Rivian Assistant won’t just be available on new models but on existing Gen1 and Gen2 R1S and R1Ts. 

Rivian has faced similar problems as other startup EV makers when it comes to getting quality and production issues settled, while simultaneously suffering from cash flow issues. The Trump administration has added additional headaches with tariffs and the elimination of subsidies for electric cars. The BMW X3-sized R2 has long been considered its best shot at a mainstream product ahead of a possibly lower-cost R3 hatchback, as the current R1 models can cost more than $100,000 and are generally considered too large for big export success.

Scaringe, in his closing remarks, framed Thursday’s announcements as the big step the company has been working on so far this decade to “build the house†of its physical products and the pieces needed to advance its software and hardware for future efforts. And customers will be able to see all of those pieces taking shape with the upcoming technology.

“You’re seeing the house start to form in front of you,†he said.