Rivian Ready to Blaze Unmapped Paths for Generation 2 Vehicles.

Rivian enthusiasts have reasons to celebrate. A few weeks ago, the company released a software update that introduced hands-free automated driving for its second-generation R1 vehicles. However, this new feature, which can only be used on mapped roads, left many fans wanting more. Now, the company, which prides itself on meeting and fulfilling customer demands, has announced that a map-free update will soon be available this year.

James Philbin, Rivian’s Vice President of Autonomy, mentioned in the RivianTrackr Hangouts podcast that one of the most common pieces of feedback from users is that they enjoy the Highway Assist feature, but they want to use it in more places. This new approach, internally known as "Map Free," is expected to be an exciting improvement soon.

The interval between the launch of Highway Assist and the Map Free feature will allow the Rivian fleet to gather ‘unique events’. This information will be used to train Rivian’s cloud model before the data is sent back to individual vehicles. RJ Scaringe, founder and CEO of Rivian, explained in early March that Highway Assist is just the beginning of an expanding set of automated driving features that aim to cover everything from major highways to surface streets and turn-by-turn navigation.

For now, the Highway Assist system still requires drivers to pay attention to the road, as it will send alerts if they stray for too long without focusing. However, contactless driving (eyes-off driving) is anticipated to be available by 2026. This is part of Rivian’s philosophy of “We give you back your time,” which constitutes one of the three pillars of their three to five-year vision. Philbin argues that this philosophy is centered on “meeting drivers where they are,” unlike other manufacturers, such as Tesla, that pursue full automation.

“We recognize that many people buy Rivians to embark on adventures and take amazing trips. They want to drive, and we want them to continue doing so,” Philbin stated. However, there is a type of driving that can be monotone and boring, like on highways, where the company aims to offer a better experience while giving drivers back their time.

Eventually, this will also lead to Rivian’s third goal, which is to offer Level 4 vehicles, or high automation. These features will enable functions like automatic parking or valet mode, where drivers can step out of their Rivian at the office or airport, and the vehicle will park itself. Although Philbin doesn’t promise anything specific, he is confident that the hardware and platforms of the current generation 2 should be able to support these future features.

Rivian’s second pillar focuses on active safety features, as the company restructured its entire autonomous vehicle system for the second-generation models. Thanks to this dedication, the Rivian R1T has been recognized as the only large truck in North America to receive the Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Philbin emphasizes the importance of innovating in the realm of active safety to make these systems more capable and reduce accidents. “The goal is for Rivian to be one of the safest vehicles on the road, not only for occupants but also for other road users,” he concluded.