- The launch of the Rivian R2 is just months away.
- The automaker confirmed that although the R2 will eventually have lidar technology, its first units will be launched without the hardware.
- Now, Rivian tells InsideEVs that no retrofit path is planned after the devices become available.
Rivian AI & Autonomy Day The event revealed a lot about where the company is headed. From the first lidar approach to autonomy to a Phased rollout of new and improved R2 devicesIt was an illustrative moment that showed how the brand plans to highlight its Tesla Model Y fighter.
There’s just one thing that’s held some people back: The R2 won’t receive its flagship lidar until months after launch. InsideEVs has learned that Rivian does not plan to offer an upgrade path for its lidar technology to early adopters.
This means the hardware won’t be updated later when it’s already available, and the price of getting Rivian’s latest SUV at launch means it will forever rely on a camera- and radar-based system.
Image by: Rivian
“At this time, we do not plan to modify subsequent R2 vehicles,” a Rivian spokesperson said. InsideEVs When asked if it would be possible to retrofit R2 early adopters once the lidar launches in late 2026.
This isn’t shocking, but it is clarifying. The R2 was never promised to come with lidar — in fact, it was a surprise announcement at Rivian’s AI Day that the SUV would be equipped with it in late 2026. What’s new is the confirmation that Rivian has no plans to update these early vehicles once lidar is available.
Rivian also confirmed to InsideEVs that the R2 will launch with an “upgraded version of the Gen 2 architecture.” The automaker has been clear that the lidar technology is part of the implementation of its third-generation autonomous architecture — which will likely be made possible thanks to a powerful Rivian Autonomy Processor (RAP1) that was designed in-house specifically for third-generation computing devices.
And while the second-generation-equipped R2s won’t have a path to Lidar, Rivian says the models will be equipped with the brand’s enhanced 65-megapixel HDR camera system and improved dual-mode angle radar. This should be enough for hands-free driving, however It can get there versus lidar-equipped cars that get Level 4 or blind-sight features.
Image by: Rivian
The automaker defended its decision by stressing that the introduction of the R2 was entirely intentional. By launching without lidar, Rivian is staying firm on its goal of a starting price of $45,000 for the R2. And even without lidar, Rivian The R2 hardware is expected to be more advanced What it offers in its second generation R1 cars today:
“The R2 will launch with computing power and sensors that will be upgraded compared to today’s highly advanced Generation 2 R1, at a much lower price. This makes it what we expect to be one of the most advanced vehicles in its class,” the spokesperson said. “Our initial launch uses advanced cameras and radar to offer a competitive price and basic safety features to a much larger addressable market.”
However, it’s not immediately clear whether Rivian will offer lidar on the base models of the R2 when it becomes available in late 2026 as well. When asked if the lidar system would be standard, Rivian said it would share more information about models and vehicle options in 2026, so models below the R2 produced in late 2026 likely won’t receive the hardware either.
The good news is that if self-driving isn’t at the top of your wish list for a new car, you won’t be at risk of FOMO when the R2 hits the market. A lot of people were interested in the R2 before they knew lidar would be an option, anyway.
But for those who We are By prioritizing future-proofing and wanting the latest and greatest technology, this could mean that Rivian sees a bit of a lull in demand at launch as people wait for lidar to become available before purchasing.
