Rivian Autonomy & AI Day Breakdown: What R1 and R2 Vehicles Get and When

Rivian dropped a ton of autonomy and AI news, so here’s the simplified version of what matters and how it breaks down by vehicle.

R2 launches in early 2026 using the same Gen 2 Autonomy Computer found in today’s Gen 2 R1T and R1S. The new Rivian Autonomy Processor and Gen 3 Autonomy Computer do not arrive until late 2026, so early R2 builds will not have the next-gen hardware right away.

LiDAR follows the same timeline. R2 will launch without LiDAR in early 2026, with LiDAR being added later in 2026 as part of Rivian’s more advanced autonomy stack.

Autonomy+ is coming to Gen 2 R1T, Gen 2 R1S, and R2. Pricing is $2,500 one-time or $49.99 per month. It includes Universal Hands-Free driving, which launches for Gen 2 R1 vehicles in December 2025 and is available on R2 at launch. Lane Change on Command is included, while Auto Parking and On-Ramp to Off-Ramp driving are both coming in 2026.

Rivian Assistant is also confirmed for Gen 1 R1 vehicles, Gen 2 R1 vehicles, and R2. That rollout is planned for 2026, bringing Rivian’s AI assistant across the entire lineup.

The big takeaway is timing. R2 is designed to improve over time, not peak at launch. Gen 2 R1 owners get early access to hands-free driving, while late 2026 is when R2 really levels up with new compute hardware and LiDAR.