How Rivian’s Adaptive Headlights Improve Night Driving

When Rivian launched the second-generation R1T and R1S in mid-2024, one of the most under-the-radar upgrades was sitting right up front: a brand-new matrix LED headlight system. It didn’t get a flashy name or much fanfare at first—but in August 2024, a software update quietly flipped the switch and activated one of the most advanced lighting systems you can get in any U.S. vehicle.

Matrix headlights (also called adaptive driving beams or ADBs) are made up of tiny LED segments that can be turned on or off individually. The result? You can keep your high beams on all the time, and the truck will automatically dim just the parts of the beam that would blind other drivers. That means you get full visibility of the road ahead without being a jerk to oncoming traffic.

This tech has been standard in Europe and other markets for years, but outdated U.S. regulations made it illegal here—until recently. Once the NHTSA gave it the green light, Rivian moved fast. Gen 2 R1T and R1S vehicles began production in August 2024, and by the time deliveries ramped up, the hardware was already onboard. The software update just brought it to life.

The benefits are clear the first time you take one of these out on a dark road. Headlights adapt in real-time, creating shadows around other cars, lighting up curves ahead, and keeping signs from blowing out your retinas.

That said, it’s not perfect. Some early adopters report that the system can be a bit too cautious, dimming more than necessary in traffic-heavy areas. And like most advanced EV tech, it’s not cheap. If something breaks, expect a complicated and potentially expensive repair. Also, for Gen 1 Rivian owners, this isn’t something you can retrofit—it’s baked into the new headlight hardware.

Interestingly, Rivian isn’t the only one making moves in this space. Tesla’s newly refreshed Model Y—codenamed “Juniper”—is also shipping with matrix headlights as of 2025. Like Rivian, Tesla had been including the hardware in some vehicles already, but is now officially rolling out the adaptive beam features. The Juniper refresh includes a front lightbar, rear lightbar (very Cybertruck-esque), and an updated lighting system that’s designed for both style and function.

It’s a small detail, sure—but it speaks volumes about where Rivian is headed. They’re not just reacting to what’s legal or trendy—they’re designing for what should be standard. If this is what Rivian can do with headlights, we’re excited to see what the rest of the second-gen updates unlock next.