Rivian to Launch Hands-Free Highway ADAS in the Coming Weeks for Gen 2 R1 Vehicles

Rivian is finally bringing hands-free highway driving to its R1 lineup. During the Q4 2024 Shareholder Webinar, CEO RJ Scaringe confirmed that Rivian’s long-awaited hands-free advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) will roll out in the coming weeks for Gen 2 R1 vehicles.

Rivian’s current Rivian Autonomy Platform has offered driver assistance features for some time, but it hasn’t included a true hands-free experience—until now. This new system will allow R1T and R1S drivers to take their hands off the wheel on mapped highways, putting Rivian in direct competition with Ford’s BlueCruise and GM’s Super Cruise. While full details are still under wraps, the system is expected to use the vehicle’s high-resolution cameras, radar, and HD mapping to ensure safe operation.

This marks a big step in Rivian’s push to deliver a more advanced software experience, but it also leaves questions about whether Gen 1 R1 owners will receive any form of this upgrade. Given Rivian’s focus on Gen 2 hardware for recent software improvements, early adopters may find themselves left behind.

No firm release date has been announced yet, but with RJ confirming a launch “in the coming weeks,” more details should emerge soon. Stay tuned.