Rivian to launch hands-free driving system in 2025, ‘Eyef-Off’ in 2026, CEO tells Reuters
Abhirup Roy and Arsheeya Bajwa
(Reuters) – Electric-vehicle maker Rivian ( NASDAQ 🙂 plans to launch its advanced Hands-Free Driver assistance systems in 2025 and its “eyes” systems in 2026, CEO RJ Scaringe said on Thursday.
An advanced driver assistance system that allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road will add “a huge amount of value to customers,” Scaringe said.
Automakers have raced in recent years to introduce more driving features, such as lane assist and adaptive cruise control, into their vehicles.
The push for driver-assistance technology will give customers “back time,” Scaringe said, allowing them to access their phones, read books or send e-mails while behind the wheel.
Developing such capabilities in systems is “something we’re hyper-focused on,” Scaringe said.
Rivian Gen 2 vehicles are currently equipped with the “Rivian Autonomy Platform,” which assists drivers but still requires their continued attention and control of the vehicle, similar to features offered by some other automakers.
Scaringa’s announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of advanced driver assistance systems as leading EV makers like Tesla ( NASDAQ 🙂 turn to self-driving technology and robotaxis.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration earlier this month opened a probe into 2.6 million Tesla vehicles after reports of accidents involving a feature that allows users to remotely control their cars.
Trump’s influence
The company also sees no significant risk to its loan for the Georgia plant from US President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting the EV industry.
Earlier in January, Rivian and the US Department of Energy finalized a loan agreement for up to $6.6 billion to help build the EV maker’s production facility in Georgia.
On Monday, Trump rescinded the 2021 executive order issued by his predecessor Joe Biden, which aimed to ensure that by 2030 half of all new vehicles sold in the US would be electric.
In addition, Trump also called for an end to the waiver that allows states to adopt zero-emission rules by 2035 and said his administration would consider ending EV tax credits.
Trump’s threat to impose duties of 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada has also cast a shadow over automakers and their suppliers.
Mexico’s auto supply chains, which have seen hundreds of billions of dollars in investment over the decade, will have to be reshaped or face higher costs, he added ominously, saying the impact “could be really damaging.”
“So we’re really looking at that.”
(Reporting by Abhirup Roy in San Francisco and Arshee Bajwa in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi and Alan Baron)
