No Lidar Retrofit For You

• Rivian R2 launch is simply months away.
• The automaker has confirmed that whereas R2 will ultimately get lidar, its earliest items will launch with out the {hardware}.
• Now, Rivian tells InsideEVs {that a} retrofitting path isn’t deliberate after the {hardware} turns into obtainable.

Rivian’s AI and Autonomy Day occasion revealed rather a lot about the place the corporate goes. From a lidar-first method in direction of autonomy to a phased rollout of the R2’s new and improved {hardware}it was a clarifying second that confirmed how the model plans to carry its Tesla Mannequin Y-fighter to gentle.

There’s only one factor that tripped a number of people up: the R2 will not obtain its groundbreaking lidar {hardware} till months after it launches. And Rivian doesn’t plan to supply a lidar improve path for early adopters, InsideEVs has discovered.

This implies no retrofitting the {hardware} afterward when it really turns into obtainable, and that the value of getting Rivian’s newest SUV at launch means that it’ll ceaselessly depend on a camera-and-radar-based system.

Photograph by: Rivian

“Presently, we don’t plan to retrofit later R2 automobiles,” a Rivian spokesperson informed InsideEVs when requested if a retrofit can be doable for early R2 adopters as soon as the lidar {hardware} is launched in late 2026.

This is not stunning, however it is clarifying. The R2 was by no means promised to come back with lidar—in actual fact, it was a shock announcement at Rivian’s AI day that the SUV can be geared up with it in late 2026. What’s new is the affirmation that Rivian has no plans to retrofit these early automobiles as soon as lidar turns into obtainable.

Rivian additionally confirmed to InsideEVs that R2 will launch with “an elevated model of the Gen 2 structure.” The automaker was clear that lidar is a part of its Gen 3 autonomy structure implementation—probably made doable by the highly effective Rivian Autonomy Processor (RAP1) particularly constructed in-house for its Gen 3 compute {hardware}.

And whereas early Gen 2-equipped R2s will not have a path to lidar, Rivian says that the fashions will likely be geared up with the model’s improved 65-megapixel HDR digital camera system and enhanced dual-mode nook radar. That ought to be sufficient for hands-free driving, however might plateau there versus lidar-equipped vehicles receiving Stage 4 or eyes-off options.

Photograph by: Rivian

The automaker defended its resolution by stressing that the R2’s rollout is absolutely intentional. By launching it with out lidar, Rivian stays steadfast in direction of its purpose of a $45,000 beginning worth for the R2. And even sans lidar, Rivian expects the R2’s {hardware} to be extra superior than what it presents in its Gen 2 R1 automobiles right this moment:

“R2 will launch with compute energy and sensors that will likely be upgraded over right this moment’s very superior Gen 2 R1, at a way more reasonably priced worth level. This makes it what we anticipate to be some of the superior automobiles in its class,” the spokesperson stated. “Our preliminary launch makes use of superior cameras and radar to ship a aggressive worth and core security options for a considerably bigger addressable market.”

That being stated, it is not instantly clear if Rivian will provide lidar on base trims of the R2 when it turns into obtainable in late 2026, both. When requested if lidar can be commonplace, Rivian stated that it might share extra data on trims and automobile choices in 2026, so it is doable that lesser trims of the R2 produced in late 2026 could not obtain the {hardware} both.

The excellent news is that if autonomy is not on the prime of your record of desires in a brand new automobile, you will not be susceptible to FOMO when the R2 hits the market. Loads of people have been within the R2 earlier than they even knew lidar can be an choice, anyway.

However for many who are prioritizing future-proofing and wish the most recent and best tech, it’d imply Rivian sees a little bit of a requirement lull at launch whereas people wait till lidar turns into obtainable earlier than shopping for.