Key Takeaways
- Rivian has launched Autonomy+, a self-driving feature priced at $2,500 or $50 per month, to compete with Tesla's FSD.
- The self-driving hardware includes Rivian's custom RAP1 chips, 11 cameras, several radars, and a LiDAR system, designed for vision-only autonomous driving.
- The RivLink interface allows for easy upgrades by adding extra RAP1 chips as software improves, while the new software utilizes advanced data processing techniques.
- The Autonomy+ subscription will be rolled out soon, with features like Universal Hands-Free driving for the second-generation R1 fleet and future R2 models.
- Compared to Tesla's $8,000 FSD, Rivian's Autonomy+ offers fewer capabilities initially, with plans to enhance features towards achieving L4 autonomy.
Rivian has introduced its own solution to compete with Tesla's FSD feature, named Autonomy+, which costs $2,500 or can be subscribed to for $50 a month.
Advanced Hardware Components
This new self-driving hardware kit relies on Rivian's custom RAP1 (Rivian Autonomy Processor) chips, manufactured using TSMC's 5nm technology. It also comes equipped with 11 cameras, several radars, and a LiDAR system.
The RAP1 AI chip is designed specifically for vision-only autonomous driving and supports the development of Rivian's next-generation Autonomy Compute Module 3 (ACM3) computer. Notably, it delivers 1600 sparse INT8 TOPS, enabling the processing of 5 billion pixels per second.
Upgradeable Technology
Additionally, Rivian has created a RivLink interface, which allows for the integration of extra RAP1 chips, facilitating easier upgrades when software advancements surpass hardware capabilities. The new Rivian Autonomy Platform software operates through an end-to-end data loop utilizing a Large Driving Model, which focuses on autonomous driving via Group-Relative Policy Optimization, effectively extracting advanced driving strategies from extensive datasets.
The self-driving kit, centered around the specialized RAP1 AI chip, is set to debut on the R2 model in 2026. However, Rivian will roll out the Autonomy+ subscription model in the upcoming quarter, with plans to continuously add features as they become ready. For example, it will enhance the second-generation R1 fleet with Universal Hands-Free assisted driving, available for longer durations across more than 3.5 million road miles in the United States and Canada.
Comparison with Tesla
At this price point, the Autonomy+ feature will offer fewer capabilities compared to Tesla's $8,000 FSD, at least until the ACM3 self-driving computer becomes a standard feature. The Universal Hands-Free option, for example, requires "clearly painted lines" for functionality outside of highways. Rivian has committed to "consistently enhancing the autonomy capabilities" of its second-gen R1 and future R2 vehicles, aiming for L4 autonomy, akin to Tesla's unsupervised FSD, which is foundational for its Robotaxi platform.
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