Rivian plans to equip its R2 vehicles with LiDAR and the proprietary RAP1 autonomy computer. While the company previously targeted a late 2026 release, this hardware will initially be available only to Rivian employees before the end of 2026. Deliveries to paying customers are scheduled to begin in 2027.
The RAP1 chip provides 1,600 sparse INT8 TOPS. According to Rivian, the cost of the LiDAR hardware has decreased significantly to a few hundred dollars per unit. The company expects the transition to in-house silicon to improve margins by eliminating payments to third-party providers.
Rivian is rolling out its point-to-point driving feature to R1 Gen 2 vehicles starting at the end of 2026. The Autonomy+ service is priced at $2,500 upfront or $49.99 per month. The company is currently testing expert-driver data fleets in San Francisco, Chicago, and Miami.
Regarding the partnership with Uber, which is valued at up to $1.25 billion through 2031, Rivian expects to receive a $250 million tranche in Q4. The deal involves a potential order of 10,000 vehicles, contingent on achieving Level 4 autonomy capabilities by late 2028.
