Rivian goes big on autonomy, with custom silicon, lidar, and a hint at robotaxis

Rivian unveiled ambitious plans to advance the autonomy of its electric vehicles, highlighting new hardware developments including custom silicon and lidar sensors, as well as a future potential entry into the self-driving ride-hail market. At its first “Autonomy & AI Day” event, CEO RJ Scaringe detailed the company’s roadmap to expand its hands-free driver-assistance software, branded as “Universal Hands-Free,” which will cover over 3.5 million miles of roads across the U.S. and Canada by early 2026. This system, available on the second-generation R1 trucks and SUVs, will enable point-to-point navigation and allow drivers to take their eyes off the road, charging either a one-time fee of $2,500 or $49.99 monthly. Rivian is also developing a “personal L4” autonomy level, meaning vehicles can operate without human intervention within specific areas, and hinted at future competition with companies like Waymo in the ride-hailing space. To support