RIVIAN EXPANDS AUTONOMOUS FEATURES WITH HANDS FREE DRIVING

EV Channels Review

The Out of Spec Podcast episode features Jose from RivianTrackr discussing Rivian's latest software update, 2025.06, which introduces 'Enhanced Highway Assist' for Gen 2 vehicles. This feature allows for hands-free driving on pre-mapped roads, relying on a driver-facing infrared camera in the rearview mirror for attention detection. While praised as a significant step forward and a fun experience, the system is currently limited to mapped highways and requires the driver to remain attentive. The discussion highlights the ongoing challenge of pre-mapped road dependency, comparing Rivian's progress to competitors like GM and Ford. Future plans include expanding hands-off capabilities to more highways and select surface roads, with a potential for 'eyes-off' features in controlled conditions. The episode also touches on other updates like wheel swaps and performance upgrades, and importantly, warns that many advanced autonomy features may eventually come with a subscription cost.