The robot at Rivian’s Palo Alto office made a clumsy entrance into the company’s “Autonomy & AI Day” showcase, setting the tone for a day filled with challenges and progress in the self-driving vehicle space. The event highlighted Rivian’s efforts to develop vehicles capable of driving themselves, a task that has proven to be more difficult than anticipated.
During a demo ride in a 2025 R1S SUV equipped with automated-driving software, the vehicle encountered a few hiccups, including a near-collision with a Tesla Model S. Despite these minor setbacks, the vehicle demonstrated impressive capabilities such as stopping at stoplights, handling turns, and slowing for speed bumps without traditional programmed rules.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe revealed a pivotal shift in the company’s approach to self-driving technology in 2021 when they embraced transformer-based artificial intelligence. This shift led to the development of a new ground-up driving software launched in 2024 on the second-generation R1 vehicles powered by Nvidia’s Orin processors.
The company’s Large Driving Model (LDM) is being trained on fleet data to enable the rollout of “Universal Hands-Free” driving later this month, allowing Rivian owners to take their hands off the wheel on certain roads in the U.S. and Canada. By the end of 2026, Rivian plans to introduce “point-to-point” driving, a consumer version of the demo showcased during the event.
However, Rivian faces a challenge with the introduction of a new custom autonomy computer and lidar sensor for the upcoming R2 SUVs. These features won’t be available until after the R2 goes on sale, creating a dilemma for customers who want advanced autonomy features. Scaringe acknowledged the potential for customer preferences to influence their decision to wait for the latest technology or opt for the current model.
Despite the challenges and timeline misalignments, Rivian remains committed to advancing its self-driving technology and delivering innovative solutions to its customers. The company’s journey towards achieving true autonomy continues to evolve, driven by a dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation in the automotive industry. Rivian has always been known for its adventurous spirit and cutting-edge technology when it comes to electric vehicles. The company’s CEO, RJ Scaringe, once expressed his vision of making Rivian’s vehicles so capable of driving themselves that they could meet you at the end of a hiking trail. While this may have seemed like a lofty goal at the time, Scaringe still believes it is within reach in the next few years.
In order to achieve this level of autonomy, Rivian is focusing on developing its R2 vehicles, which are set to be more advanced and capable than their current models. Scaringe acknowledges that this goal will require extensive testing and fine-tuning, but he remains optimistic about the possibilities. As the company moves closer to achieving level 4 autonomy, the potential for vehicles to navigate complex terrain without the need for lane lines or other guiding features becomes more feasible.
When considering the operational design domain (ODD) for autonomous driving, Scaringe emphasizes that Rivian’s focus will be on more practical scenarios like navigating dirt roads or reaching a trailhead. While the idea of a Rivian vehicle autonomously conquering challenging terrain like Hell’s Gate in Moab may be a stretch, the concept of having your vehicle meet you at the end of a hiking trail is well within reach.
While Rivian is not currently investing resources into developing autonomous rock crawling capabilities, the company is dedicated to making driving to remote or off-road destinations a seamless and convenient experience for its customers. With the upcoming Universal Hands-Free update scheduled for release later this month, Rivian continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology.
