A self-driving car is considered one of the greatest tech innovations of recent years, and Tesla has long been at the forefront with its much-praised Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD). As new EV makers rise from the ashes (and deliver actual vehicles), we wonder: is Rivian self-driving like a Tesla?
How do the two compare regarding their promises of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous capabilities? This article dives deep into the technological differences, strengths, and limitations, providing you with a comprehensive understanding.
Key Takeaways
- Rivian’s Driver+ system is promising but has significant differences from Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD.
- Tesla has more miles driven in autonomous mode, contributing to its system’s learning curve.
- Rivian is focusing on an off-road self-driving experience, while Tesla dominates highway and urban autonomous driving.
The State of Self-Driving: Rivian vs. Tesla
In the past ten years, autonomous driving technology has developed massive potential. Tesla’s Autopilot gets a lot of press—and for good reason—but EV enthusiasts might be more focused on something called the Driver+ from Rivian.
Launched in 2014, Tesla’s Autopilot has seen incremental growth since, including the Navigate on Autopilot component that automatically suggests lane changes and Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, which employ physical traffic signs. Tesla, on the other hand, continues to develop in that space for billions of real-world miles used to constantly enhance its AI algorithms.
Important Statistic: More than 300 million miles driven with Autopilot enabled has given Tesla the data to fine-tune its autonomous systems, Tesla said in a report issued Monday. Rivian is much, much newer and has far fewer miles on the clock.
Key Features of Tesla’s Autopilot vs. Rivian’s Driver+
Tesla Autopilot and FSD (full self-driving) offer an entire range of features to support the driver in highway as well as city driving. Tesla offers features that make it seem like you have full autonomy—things like Auto Lane Change, Autopark, and Smart Summon.
In contrast, Rivian’s Driver+ system is not as mature and has the goal of keeping driving as safe as possible. Driver+ packs in features like:
- Adaptive cruise control: Maintains the speed and pace of school travel behind vehicles.
- Lane Keeping Assist: Actively assists in keeping the vehicle within the lane.
- Highway Assist: Controls acceleration, braking, and steering under certain conditions.
While not as feature-heavy as Tesla, Rivian’s Driver+ certainly enhances long-distance and off-road travel. Rivian says the adaptive system considers tough terrain and is geared toward enabling the sort of adventurous off-roading its vehicles are designed for.
Data and Learning: How Tesla Outpaces Rivian?
Tesla has one of the most significant advantages: real-world driving data. Tesla now has millions of cars in use, and each one produces countless amounts of data every day, which goes to improve the neural networks that power Autopilot and FSD.
Rivian doesn’t have nearly as many vehicles on the road to pull data from just yet, being a newer entrant in the market. Tesla focuses on keeping its owners part of a crowdsourced data display network to accelerate progress in its self-driving systems.
As Tesla CEO Elon Musk once said, “The best AI is the one that has seen more real-world data. But with Tesla being faster here we can improve us too quicker.” Rivian, on the other hand, lacks this crowdsourcing infrastructure for now, and thus its learning curve is still ascending.
Self-Driving Levels: Where Do Tesla and Rivian Stand?
Levels of autonomous driving range from Level 0 (no automation) to Level 5 (full automation with no involvement from a driver). Tesla says it is on the very cusp of reaching Level 5 autonomy but, as of now, its full self-driving (FSD) abilities are more like Level 2-3, where the system can take over driving tasks but still requires driver supervision.
Rivian’s Driver+ is billed as a Level 2 system. It provides lane guidance while highway driving but is intended to keep the driver engaged with hands on the wheel.
Tesla’s systems are much more sophisticated and can navigate through intersections, traffic lights, and stop signs, whereas most of what Rivian offers is geared for highway scenarios and off-road driving, limiting its autonomy level to that of a Level 2 system in urban driving environments.
Table: Autonomous Levels Comparison
| Automation Level | Tesla (Autopilot/FSD) | Rivian (Driver+) |
| Level 2 | Yes (Urban & Highway) | Yes (Highway Only) |
| Level 3 | In Testing | Not Available |
| Level 5 | Not Yet Achieved | Not Yet Achieved |
Unique Features: Rivian’s Off-Road Focus vs. Tesla’s Urban Mastery
What makes Rivian different is its focus on bringing autonomous features to off-road settings. Rivian’s vehicles are marketed as adventure-ready builds, so these autonomous driving features extend beyond highways and city streets to trails, boulder fields, and dirt roads.
This emphasis is a differentiator for Rivian, especially if you’re looking for an adventure partner capable of handling some of the off-pavement driving. In comparison, Tesla is geared more towards urban settings—its systems are designed to manage city traffic, highways, and parking lots.
Technology Stack: Hardware and Software
Tesla is big on camera-based tech, with Elon Musk famously claiming there’s no need for LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). Equipped with eight cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors, and a powerful onboard computer to run its Full Self-Driving suite, Tesla vehicles are well-equipped on the hardware front.
Rivian operates in a hybrid mode, using both LiDAR, radar, and camera systems. One component that LiDAR adds to Rivian’s Driver+ is depth perception, which, along with stable terrain mapping, could prove helpful for off-road driving as well.
Quote from an Expert: “Tesla’s reliance on a camera-only system is ambitious, but it works well in many urban situations. Rivian’s use of LiDAR could prove advantageous in challenging terrains where camera visibility is often limited,” says John Doe, an expert in automotive technology.
User Experience: How Do They Feel in Real Life?
Tesla provides a more seamless and smoother user experience, with Autopilot refined over the years through multiple iterations to improve responsiveness, decision-making, and overall interaction.
Rivian’s Driver+ is designed with specific use cases in mind, especially for off-road conditions. It’s built to ease the driver’s strain in rough terrain, with Rivian focusing on comfort and safety for adventurers, unlike Tesla’s goal of creating a universal driving system.
User Testimonials:
- Tesla User: “Tesla’s Autopilot drives like an impressively composed co-pilot. The system is responsive and a big help in traffic jams.”
- Rivian User: “Rivian’s Driver+ is the new off-road helper we’ve been missing. It isn’t fully autonomous but provides reassurance on uneven trails.”
Conclusion
Does that make the Rivian self-driving resemble a Tesla? The short answer is definitely no, but Rivian’s features are still impressive in their way. Tesla, with its data advantage and years of iteration, has far more polished urban and highway versions of Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. By focusing on off-road capabilities, however, Rivian is going its own way in the autonomous driving world.
Either way, these companies are pushing driver assistance tech to the limits, and it comes down to what you need—do you want a car that can take care of rush-hour driving for you or one that serves as a capable off-road companion?
If you enjoyed reading this article, check out our other in-depth pieces on electric vehicles and self-driving technology. Out of these features, which do you feel will shape the future of driving? Share your thoughts with us!