Rivian Automotive has taken a significant step in its push toward autonomous driving by revealing its first custom chip — the Rivian Autonomy Processor — alongside a new driver-assistance subscription package called Autonomy+. The announcements, unveiled at Rivian’s first “Autonomy & AI Day,” mark a shift away from reliance on external processors and represent an effort to vertically integrate critical technology that will power future self-driving features. ([turn1news0]
The Rivian Autonomy Processor is designed to handle large volumes of data from cameras, lidar and other sensors, enabling complex perception and decision-making tasks that are essential for higher levels of automated driving. According to company information, Rivian created a new foundational AI model, known as the Large Driving Model, to help train the autonomy software in a manner analogous to how large language models work in other AI domains. The strategy underscores Rivian’s ambition to develop internal expertise for the core computational needs of autonomous vehicles rather than relying solely on third-party silicon.
Autonomy+ Subscription Aims To Broaden Access to Advanced Driving
Alongside the custom chip reveal, Rivian introduced Autonomy+, a paid upgrade that will bundle hands-free and advanced driver-assistance features. Autonomy+ is priced at $2,500 as a one-time purchase or $49.99 per month and will be available starting early 2026, covering hands-free driving on more than 3.5 million miles of roads across the United States and Canada. The pricing undercuts rival offerings, such as Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite, and signals Rivian’s intent to make advanced capabilities more accessible to its customer base.
Rivian’s roadmap also points to Level 4 autonomy goals — where vehicles can operate without human input in defined conditions — with plans to incorporate lidar sensors and AI assistants into future R2 models, further differentiating its approach from competitors that rely heavily on camera-only systems. Rivian’s strategy blends advanced hardware, integrated AI models and subscription-based software updates as part of a broader push to win a share of the emerging autonomous-driving market.
How a Custom Chip Fits Into the Broader EV and Autonomy Race
Developing an in-house autonomy processor places Rivian alongside a small group of automakers and tech companies investing heavily in custom silicon for vehicle intelligence. Vertical integration of chips and AI models has become a focal point for companies seeking better performance and control over their software stacks. By designing its own processor and pairing it with multimodal sensors, Rivian is signaling a long-term commitment to building autonomous capabilities in-house rather than outsourcing to third-party chipmakers.
This strategy mirrors broader industry trends in which automakers and technology firms alike invest in proprietary hardware to support complex automated driving systems, often combining camera, radar and lidar data to build more robust perception networks. Rivian’s partnership with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) as the manufacturing partner for its custom chip underscores the importance of global semiconductor expertise in powering next-generation EV platforms.
Investors and market watchers have shown mixed reactions to the autonomy announcements. While some see a strong technical roadmap that could position Rivian as a future leader in autonomous driving, others point to the high costs of development and challenges ahead in achieving full Level 4 autonomy — particularly as competitors like Tesla, GM and Wayve continue advancing their own systems.
