R2 buyers - will you wait for gen 3 hardware (including LiDAR)?

[Virtio]

So it appears that the first production batch of R2s will have gen 2 hardware and sensors. Later around the end of 2026 the gen 3 hardware (including LiDAR) will ship on all R2s and the gen 2 hardware R2 will be discontinued. There will not be an upgrade available to convert gen 2 to gen 3.
My question is, if you have a reservation for an R2, will you take the early gen 2 R2 or wait 6-9 months for the gen 3 R2?

https://riviantrackr.com/news/clearing-up-the-confusion-around-rivian-r2-and-lidar/

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[macb00kemdanno]

I'll wait. I don't need to be the first on the block with an R2, nor do I want an early, EARLY build. I'd rather wait a little longer and have the option for LIDAR. I currently have a Tesla Highland with HW4 and the one-month free trial of FSD 12.4. It's been driving me around, unassisted, since early December with incredible accuracy.

So I want to upgrade to something that is at least as good, and preferably even better.

 

[jdubea]

I'm more curious to see what the other differences between Gen 2 & Gen 3 will be.

Yes, Gen 3 will have LIDAR, but will there be other substantial architecture differences like the computer zoning changes from Gen1 -> Gen2?

 

[RivianRiverRat]

I’ll take it now because hands off eyes off aren’t a make or break item for my wife
But it also depends on-are we talking a delta in delivery time of 10 months or 4 months (which is anyone’s guess)
It’s a crapshoot on guessing when to buy for promises of software hardware integration so pull a Michael Jordan Nike and just do it

 

[godfodder0901]

I'm more curious to see what the other differences between Gen 2 & Gen 3 will be.

Yes, Gen 3 will have LIDAR, but will there be other substantial architecture differences like the computer zoning changes from Gen1 -> Gen2?

Yes. The entire hardware stack will be new. Dual custom RAP1 processors with ~1600 TOPS for a nearly 4x increase in compute, 10MP more vision, plus the ability to process over 55,000,000 pixels per second.

 

[SANZC02]

I’m good with the G2 hardware. My wife does not use the autonomy stuff on the Tesla or R1. I only use it on the highway on trips and what my G1 R1S does works fine, the G2 hardware is more capable than that.

If I were to guess the G3 hardware will probably be closer to 2027 than mid/late 2026. I just can’t imagine deciding to start R2 deliveries with G2 hardware if the G3 was only going to be a few months later.

 

[sparked]

Third option: Undecided. Waiting for price, final specs, test drives, etc.

The car matters more to me than the lidar and Gen 3. If it's a great enough vehicle on its' own, I might skip lidar/gen 3. If it's not, I might wait for Gen 3 or buy something else.

 

[Dark-Fx]

I'm taking as soon as possible to get some aftermarket stuff designed and tested.

 

[DavidM]

As a 2025 R1 Gen 2 owner, I feel cheated.

 

[elektrode]

Gen1 owner’s eye twitch is acting up reading this.

 

[narmstrong79]

You need to understand the concept of "Perceived Value" whether Gen3+Lidar brings feature I'd actually use or not, why would i buy something knowing its planned obsolete within 12 months. these aren't iPhone, these are $60K+ cars. The shouldn't have mentioned gen 3 or lidar until it was ready to ship. As a gen 1 owner, i know over promising and under delivering.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I think the cheap ones will be the first ones out. Chances are, if I convert my R2 reservation, it would be for the loaded one, depending on what that spec is. Realistically, I'm going to keep my R1 and stay with the R1 series because it's a size I prefer.

 

[Dark-Fx]

I think the cheap ones will be the first ones out. Chances are, if I convert my R2 reservation, it would be for the loaded one, depending on what that spec is. Realistically, I'm going to keep my R1 and stay with the R1 series because it's a size I prefer.

Launch Editions are supposed to be higher end, but only dual motor.

 

[Swiszo]

Leased a Gen 2 R1S for 2 years for three reasons
1) CO & Federal tax credits
2) got for in line for R2
3) I can now wait 2 years before even looking at the R2 and reside if I want what Rivian offers is what I would like , two years from now

 

[VSG]

So it appears that the first production batch of R2s will have gen 2 hardware and sensors. Later around the end of 2026 the gen 3 hardware (including LiDAR) will ship on all R2s and the gen 2 hardware R2 will be discontinued. There will not be an upgrade available to convert gen 2 to gen 3.

Jump to conclusions much?

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