Rivian rolls out new ‘Universal Hands-Free’ driving feature

Rivian has released an update for its second-generation R1 electric vehicles introducing the new “Universal Hands-Free” driving feature. This software allows drivers to remove their hands from the wheel on over 3.5 million miles of roads across the US and Canada, including highways and surface streets with visible lane markings. However, drivers must remain attentive and supervise the system, as it does not stop or slow for traffic lights or stop signs, nor does it handle turns or navigation. The system will disengage if a driver signals a turn, requiring manual control. This update significantly expands Rivian’s hands-free driving capabilities from the previous limit of 135,000 miles of highway. Looking ahead, Rivian plans to develop full autonomous driving capabilities, aiming for point-to-point self-driving features by 2026. The company is working on a new autonomy computer with custom silicon and a roof-mounted lidar sensor for its upcoming R2 SUV, which will support these advanced functions. Alongside the driving update,