Self-driving technology could reshape the car
Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe says autonomous driving could give the company room to imagine vehicles that look and feel very different from its current SUVs and trucks. He sees the technology as a chance to create new formats for cars people own and use themselves.
Rivian is developing its driver-assistance software in stages. Its current system allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel while staying attentive. The company says it aims to add supervised point-to-point driving, while its longer-term plans include fully autonomous R2 vehicles for use as robotaxis through Uber.
Personal ownership remains central to Rivian's vision
Scaringe expects privately owned vehicles to account for most driving, even as autonomous ride-hailing grows. That outlook shapes his interest in designing a future Rivian around the needs of people travelling in their own vehicles, rather than simply adapting existing models.
The company has not revealed the design of a potential R4, the model Scaringe identified as following R3. For now, the idea remains a glimpse of how autonomy could influence Rivian's future lineup. If the technology advances and reaches wider use, it may give automakers new ways to design vehicles around the experience of travel.
