Rivian rolls out Universal Hands-Free driving across 3.5 million miles of US and Canadian roads

The Latest Rivians Just Got 'Universal Hands-Free' And A Bunch Of Other Updates

It includes "Universal Hands-Free," Rivian's new driver-assistance feature. Last week, Rivian announced "Universal Hands-Free," its most advanced driver-assistance feature yet and -- the startup claims -- a key milestone on the road to highly automated features. On Thursday, the EV maker started rolling out Universal Hands-Free to second-generation R1S and R1T drivers via its 2025.46 software update. The release delivers a bunch of other upgrades as well, mostly for Gen 2 owners. This feature takes Enhanced Highway Assist, Rivian's existing hands-off highway-driving feature, and expands it to far more roads. Before, Rivian invited owners to take their hands off the wheel (while keeping their eyes on everything) on 135,000 miles of approved freeways in North America. Now that's grown to over 3.5 million roads of all kinds -- highways, rural roads, city streets and anything else. "If the lane lines are clearly marked, you can engage it," Rivian said in a blog post on Thursday. Assuming the system works well, that capability blows features like General Motors Super Cruise (750,000 miles of divided highways) and Ford BlueCruise (130,000 miles) out of the water. To make this possible, Rivian says it stopped depending on high-definition maps for its automated features. This feature is much more reliant on what the car actually senses about its environment. Since Universal Hands-Free doesn't stop at traffic lights or stop signs -- it pilots the car within a lane while responding to the speed of traffic -- there are probably many roads where it's not that useful, like dense city streets with lots of action. But it does seem helpful for the routes that get you from the city to and from the highway. I'm eager to try it out and see how it performs in the real world. Rivian R1T and R1S drivers get a 60-day free trial of Universal Hands-Free to start. After that, they'll have to pay $49 a month or $2,500 up front for continued access through Rivian's new Autonomy+ offering. That's probably the biggest update in Rivian's latest software release. But there are a few other upgrades that are worth mentioning. We learned all about Universal Hands-Free at Rivian's Autonomy and AI Day event earlier this month. Rivian's blog post revealed some additional autonomy-related features we didn't hear about then. Rivian is launching "Autonomy Drive Styles" across its driver-assistance features, similar to what Tesla offers for Full Self-Driving (Supervised). Here's how Rivian describes the three options: You can now use the right scroll wheel to adjust your cruise-control speed. (Before that was handled by buttons.) And there's an update to the in-vehicle visualization of the surrounding environment, which Rivian calls "Autonomy View." "With this update, the Autonomy View now zooms out to show more of the area behind your vehicle, so you have more context for maneuvers such as lane changes and turns," Rivian says. Quad-motor R1 vehicles now get two interesting new features. Kick turn sweeps out the rear end to help with sharp turns when off-roading. RAD Tuner gives drivers an interface to customize things like acceleration, stability and torque balance. Mack Hogan already tried these features out when he sampled the upgraded quad-motor Rivians this summer. The new Rivian Digital Key replaces the Bluetooth-based phone key owners have been able to use for years. Now owners of Gen 2 R1 vehicles can add a Rivian key to the wallet on compatible Apple, Google and Samsung phones, allowing them to access and driver their vehicles via Ultra-Wideband (for passive entry) or Near-Field Communication (for tapping). Rivian says this should make accessing its cars more seamless than before. Plus, owners can share around up to eight digital keys with friends or family members, which does seem genuinely helpful. One other perk: Drivers can lock and unlock their cars using a smart watch -- when they're out surfing, or what have you -- which does feel very Rivian indeed. If you experience any of these features and have thoughts, drop us a line in the comments, or contact me at [email protected]

Rivian rolls out software update 2025.46, including Universal Hands-Free driving and digital key for Apple and Android users

Rivian has just shared details of its latest over-the-air software update 2025.46, which includes some of the new features announced during its recent AI and Autonomy event last week. The update features a new digital key function for Gen 2 R1 owners, "flavorful" drive styles, kick turns, tuning, and, of course, Rivian's new Universal Hands-Free driving capabilities. There's a lot to unfold with the 2025.46 software update, so we'll provide a quick recap of our visit to Rivian's Palo Alto facilities last week for its inaugural AI and Autonomy Day. During the exclusive event, Rivian executives, like founder and CEO RJ Scaringe, unveiled the company's new in-house designed silicon chip, which will help power its new dedicated autonomy platform. In addition to adding LiDAR to the upcoming R2 models, Rivian shared plans to expand its Enhanced Highway Assist ADAS to support Universal Hands-Free driving. That includes expanded availability of the feature from 135,000 miles to over 3.5 million miles of roads across the US and Canada. According to Rivian, this availability is expected to start rolling out in early 2026. However, it appears the process is now underway with its latest software update, which includes a slew of other noteworthy upgrades. According to a blog post from Rivian this morning, a key rollout in its end-of-the-year software update is Universal Hands-Free driving, which significantly expands the number of roads on which R1 owners can engage the driving assist feature. With update 2025.46, Gen 2 drivers can engage Universal Hands-Free on virtually any road where lane lines are clearly marked. Note that this is not a full autonomy feature (yet), so Hand-Free cannot slow or stop at lights or stop signs. Speaking of autonomy, Rivian is introducing three new Drive Styles for its assisted driving features, including Universal Hands-Free, Highway Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Change on Command. After the update, R1 owners will be able to choose their "spice level" of autonomous functions: Another significant bonus, in addition to Universal Hands-Free, is Rivian's new Digital Key feature for Gen 2 R1 owners. Following the 2025.46 update, owners will now be able to add their R1S or R1T key to their digital wallet on iPhone, Apple Watch, Google Pixel, or Samsung devices. Digital Key provides an additional means of easy access to your EV, as well as the ability to share keys with family and friends. Other features in software update 2025.46 include a new way to view the Driver Display for both Gen 1 and Gen 2 R1 owners. Per Rivian: Gen 2 drivers can now switch between the Autonomy view, which shows surrounding lanes and vehicles, and the Maps and Navigation view on the driver display. Gen 1 drivers can switch between the Driver Assistance view, which shows vehicles and objects up ahead, and the Maps and Navigation view on the driver display. Press the right thumbwheel on the steering wheel to swap. Here's an example: Last but not least, Rivian is introducing some exciting new features for R1 Quad owners. Software update 2025.46 includes a new tuner screen from the Rivian Adventure Department (RAD) - "a team of engineers, software developers, and designers who create and test features that push the boundaries of our vehicles." The RAD Tuner (seen below) was initially used by teams at Rebelle Rally and Pikes Peak, but is now available to Gen 2 Quad owners. Those drivers will be able to tune beyond Rivian's factory presets and customize the vehicle's behavior to their preferences and/or the terrain. Touch sliders control custom, savable drive modes that include factors such as acceleration, torque balance, and stability. In addition to RAD Tuning, Rivian's latest software update also includes the ability for Gen 2 Quad drivers to perform Kick Turns. Per the blog post: Turn makes it easier to steer in tight off-road conditions while moving at speeds under 15 mph (24 km/h). It works by controlling the power and tire grip, letting the vehicle spin about its center, even when it's moving. You can now make tighter turns with just a simple button press. When you engage Kick Turn, your R1 Quad smartly adjusts the power to the inside wheels, slowing them down or even reversing them. This precise control over wheel slip ensures your vehicle turns exactly as quickly and smoothly as you intend. Electrek's Seth Weintraub tested it out in Lake Tahoe earlier this year, and it's absolutely incredible. Check it out: I have a Gen 2 R1S, so I'm looking forward to Universal Hands-Free rolling out so I can test it and report back. Stay tuned. If you haven't test-driven a Rivian yet, I highly recommend doing so. You can schedule a demo drive at your nearest Rivian Space here.

Rivian takes on Tesla with new Universal Hands-Free update

Rivian released a software update for its second-generation R1 electric vehicles, introducing the "Universal Hands-Free" driving feature first revealed at the company's inaugural "Autonomy & AI Day" the previous week. This update enables drivers to remove their hands from the wheel across more than 3.5 million miles of roads in the United States and Canada where visible lane lines exist. The feature operates on a combination of highways and surface streets, but mandates continuous driver supervision. Rivian specifies that "Universal Hands-Free" does not stop or slow for traffic lights or stop signs. It also refrains from making turns or adhering to navigation instructions. In scenarios where a driver activates the turn signal to manage a turn manually, the software re-engages afterward. This rollout markedly expands Rivian's prior driver-assistance offerings. The previous hands-free system functioned solely on 135,000 miles of highways. The expansion aligns with Rivian's broader development trajectory outlined at the Autonomy & AI Day event. Video: Rivian Rivian detailed intentions to achieve point-to-point autonomous driving, though this capability remains scheduled for release no earlier than 2026. Central to these plans is a new autonomy computer incorporating custom silicon, designed for the R2 SUV debuting in 2026. This hardware, paired with a roof-mounted lidar sensor, positions the vehicles for eventual full autonomy, as stated by CEO RJ Scaringe last week. The software update introduces additional enhancements beyond driver assistance. A revised digital key system allows owners of second-generation R1 vehicles to integrate the key into digital wallets on iPhones, Apple Watches, Google Pixels, and Samsung phones. This facilitates convenient access without physical fobs. Owners of quad-motor variants in the second-generation R1 lineup gain access to the "Kick Turn" feature, which Rivian had previewed over time. They also receive the "RAD Tuner," enabling customizable drive modes tailored to user preferences. The deployment occurs amid scrutiny of comparable systems from competitors. Tesla and Ford have encountered multiple crashes and fatalities linked to their driver-assistance technologies, often involving drivers diverting attention from the road. These incidents prompted federal investigations and legal actions against the companies.