Why I won't be waiting for Gen3 Autonomy+ hardware on R2

[Heavysixer]

So like many of you, I was debating between:

1. Going with a Launch Edition, which includes "lifetime" Autonomy+ and the Gen2 hardware, or...
2. Waiting until 2027 for Gen3 with LIDAR.

I wanted to share my reasoning in case it helps any of you folks.

For me it turned out to be a no-brainer—I'm going with the Launch Edition / Gen2 / lifetime Autonomy+

Here's why - because while the Gen3 hardware will eventually (2028? 2030? Later?) be superior to Gen2, it won't matter because I don't value Autonomy+ enough to pay $2,500 or $50/month for it, but if it's free with the car, I'd likely use it a bunch.

It's a weird paradox, but once I realized I'd be waiting for something I might not actually use versus getting it free (with less eventual upside) and maybe using a lot, the choice was clear.

Anyway, that's how I puzzled it out. I'm interested to know if any of you are in the same boat.

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[iamnid]

I agree. If it comes with the LE and I have it, I'll probably use it occasionally. If I wait and have to pay for it later, chances are I won't pay for it and won't be able to use it.

More likely though, I'll be on to my next vehicle before lidar makes any difference to these first R2s

 

[Great Gatsby]

TBH I think that is what Rivian expects the rationale to be. Offer autonomy+ with LE to keep those happy who thought about waiting for lidar or for those who don't care for autonomy at all you would still get a well equipped vehicle with some extra goodies.

I'm getting the LE because I want the R2 and am impatient and it is a very competitive package for the price.

Only thing that would make me wait is if it they confirm Red Canyon is coming later. Still holding out hope...

 

[DuoRivian]

I agree with the OP. ADAS version 3 will only aid people to get L4 autonomy sometime in 5+ years (as per RJs recent interviews). People are too fixated on the next new thing and think Lidar and RAP1 are suddenly going to make the R1 made in 2026 obsolete which is just FUD. The current setup has plenty of heads space to have hands free and eyes free autonomy.

 

[maybeR2]

kinda like XM radio i use it when its free but after that i don't care cuz i got spotify. i understand you

 

[Riviot]

Does Autonomy+ includes UHF and future upgrades from current geo-fenced hands off eyes on to Point to Point hands off eyes on, then geo-fenced hands off eyes off, and later Point to Point hands off eyes off?

 

[harkco]

I'm betting their deal with Uber will get it here sooner than later.

 

[KBabione]

Does Autonomy+ includes UHF and future upgrades from current geo-fenced hands off eyes on to Point to Point hands off eyes on, then geo-fenced hands off eyes off, and later Point to Point hands off eyes off?

Of course it does...Until it doesn't.

 

[37.773972 -122.431297]

So like many of you, I was debating between:

1. Going with a Launch Edition, which includes "lifetime" Autonomy+ and the Gen2 hardware, or...
2. Waiting until 2027 for Gen3 with LIDAR.

I wanted to share my reasoning in case it helps any of you folks.

For me it turned out to be a no-brainer—I'm going with the Launch Edition / Gen2 / lifetime Autonomy+

Here's why - because while the Gen3 hardware will eventually (2028? 2030? Later?) be superior to Gen2, it won't matter because I don't value Autonomy+ enough to pay $2,500 or $50/month for it, but if it's free with the car, I'd likely use it a bunch.

It's a weird paradox, but once I realized I'd be waiting for something I might not actually use versus getting it free (with less eventual upside) and maybe using a lot, the choice was clear.

Anyway, that's how I puzzled it out. I'm interested to know if any of you are in the same boat.

I'm in your boat, with another conundrum:
If later you decide that you want Autonomy+, odds are that it will cost more. I believe that if you are even remotely thinking about Autonomy+ in the future, buy it today (or choose it as an included option) and lock in the price. It might be a good "investment".

 

[mkg3]

I do not use any ADAS. I rarely use cruise control.

I like driving. If I want to be a passenger in the vehicle, I'll have my wife drive. She likes driving too, although she uses the cruise control more often.

The way I think about any self driving vehicle is that by the time I need it due to aging, the technology will have changed multiple generations than whatever is the best today so why bother today.

 

[dleepnw]

I can see that logic but once you've experienced eyes off, its pretty compelling and hard to go back to hands off, eyes on. Basically like riding in a Waymo but having to be in the drivers seat in case the vehicle needs you to take control.

R2 without LiDAR will not support eyes off.

 

[JeepEVer]

For the near term the LiDAR will mostly be used for data collection (aka data flywheel). Most of the driving benefits from this high resolution data will be available to Gen 2 hardware in R2 and R1.

Maybe some day, if ever, the Gen 3 hardware and LiDAR may be needed for Level 4 autonomy. Us Tesla HW3 owners, which was to be IT every year since 2019, are being told HW4 is now a requirement.

I use Tesla Autopilot and additional "self driving" capabilities based on the situation (heavy traffic, relax on long drives, road trips). So I am not likely to make good use of Gen 3 any time soon, if ever. That said, if my delivery is pushed into 2027 I will gladly take Gen 3 and LiDAR.

Like with Tesla FSD, I will get a subscription for a month if it may be useful on a road trip.

 

[Riviot]

R2 without LiDAR will not support eyes off.

Not according to the boss:

Gen2 R1 and non LiDAR R2 should bookmark this page and copy this video before they delete it:

 

[macb00kemdanno]

I do not use any ADAS. I rarely use cruise control.

I like driving. If I want to be a passenger in the vehicle, I'll have my wife drive. She likes driving too, although she uses the cruise control more often.

The way I think about any self driving vehicle is that by the time I need it due to aging, the technology will have changed multiple generations than whatever is the best today so why bother today.

To each his own. I’ve logged roughly 7,000 miles of FSD 14.2.x in my Model 3 (HW4) since November (78% of my total miles during the time).

For mundane tasks like driving my kids to school in the morning, picking them up, running errands, driving to church… pretty much anywhere, I use it. There’s only but so much I “like” about driving from stoplight to stoplight or watching road lines on I-40.

It‘s for this reason that I specifically looked for used 2025 R1Ts so that I can eventually get to that point in the future with Rivian. Hopefully, my truck will be here in the next few days

With that said, I’ll keep my R2 reservation to replace my wife’s Model Y. By the time our name is called, it’ll probably be LIDAR-only anyway, so it’ll be a moot point.

 

[sparked]

Going to be a hard decision for us. I don't think I will personally be making any assumptions that there's zero downside to Gen 2 even in the near term in 2027. At least to me there is some risk that the extra compute could make Autonomy even at lower levels a much better and robust experience.

Then Lidar is just a wildcard. They say it's for data collection initially, but they haven't fully ruled out that it won't be helpful early on either. Nobody has had that nuanced technical discussion with Rivian.

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