Rivian R2 Lidar: The Good News, The Bad News, and Why I’m Still Hopeful

As an early reservation holder for the Rivian R2, I have been both excited and cautiously optimistic about making the jump from Tesla to Rivian.

I’ve loved Tesla FSD for years, having used it across North America and most recently, to the Arctic Ocean during my Dempster Highway EV road trip. Giving that up wasn’t going to be easy.

So, one of the key things I was hoping Rivian would deliver was future-ready autonomy. The latest Rivian R2 news made this hope a reality, and then some with the inclusion of Rivian LIDAR.

That said, it was made clear that the first wave of R2s will not include LIDAR, nor will they be upgradeable.

So while I’m still excited about the R2 platform itself, this post is about unpacking the good and bad news from Rivian’s autonomy reveal, what it means for reservation holders like me, and whether it’s worth waiting for a more capable version.

TL,DR – rivian lIDAR is Coming

• Rivian’s recent clarification on its R2’s autonomy capabilities has stirred up a bit of a hornet’s nest, especially around Lidar.
• The Rivian R2 Lidar announcement revealed that the initial wave of R2s will ship without the hardware required for future Level 3+ autonomous driving.
• While Rivian’s focus on cameras and radar will support its upcoming RAP (Rivian Autonomy Platform), the absence of Lidar means no future upgrade path for autonomy-ready hardware, at least for now.

Here’s the breakdown of what this means, the good and the bad, and why I’m still sticking with my R2 order, just a little more patiently.

The Good News: Rivian’s R2 Is Still a Game-Changer

First, let’s not lose sight of what the R2 is: Rivian’s most accessible EV yet, starting at around $45,000 with serious adventure chops. It’s designed for off-roaders, road trippers, and families alike.

Even without Lidar, it comes packed with radar and a 360-degree camera suite that supports their Rivian autonomy vision, even if that vision is taking a different path than Tesla’s.

In conversations with engineers at the R2 roadshow (read more here: Rivian R2 Event: Takeaways from Roadshow in Seattle), it became clear that Rivian is putting serious resources into its RAP1 chip, its home-grown alternative to Tesla’s FSD computer.

The R2 will launch with the RAP1 and a software-first approach to driver assistance.

While that doesn’t mean Level 3+ autonomy on day one, Rivian has made it clear that hands-free driving will be possible under certain conditions, much like GM’s Super Cruise. That’s encouraging.

And with OTA updates in the pipeline, improvements will continue rolling out over time.

The Bad News: No LIDAR, No Future Upgrade Path

Here’s where it gets frustrating: early R2 models won’t ship with LIDAR or even the option to retrofit Lidar hardware later.

That’s a serious blow to those of us hoping Rivian would at least build in the flexibility to support more advanced autonomous driving in the future.

Why is LIDAR such a big deal? While Tesla has famously ditched radar in favor of vision-based autonomy, most other OEMs, like Mercedes-Benz and Waymo, rely on Lidar for redundancy and accuracy in more complex driving environments. Lidar isn’t required for today’s Level 2 systems, but for future Level 3 or Level 4? It can be a game-changer.

That brings us to the core of this Rivian R2 news update: Rivian’s RAP1 platform is impressive, but without Lidar, the ceiling for autonomy is lower than many of us expected, at least for early R2s.

In a statement reported by Rivian Forums, Rivian clarified that the current sensor suite was chosen to reduce cost and complexity while still delivering excellent supervised autonomy. But no retrofit option? That’s tough to swallow.

My Personal Take: A Tesla FSD Fan Now Waiting Patiently

I’ve had the chance to test and review Tesla FSD extensively over the past few years, and honestly,it’s come a long way. (Check out my Tesla FSD v12 Review and my 3-Month Review of Tesla FSD for more on that.)

FSD has gotten me across the U.S., deep into Canada, and even to the Arctic Ocean and back during my EV road trips.

Knowing I will be giving up Tesla FSD, even temporarily, was already one of the more difficult parts of stepping away from the Tesla ecosystem. The announcement that early R2 models would not include Lidar or support a future upgrade path made that decision even harder.

At the same time, Rivian also confirmed that R2 variants equipped with Lidar are expected to arrive in late 2026. That gives me a clear path forward. I just need to be patient.

Much like Tesla’s Supercharger network went from being a reason to stay to now being accessible across other EV brands through NACS, I believe Rivian’s approach to autonomy will continue to mature. When the Lidar-equipped R2 is ready, so am I.

Breaking Down the Confusion: Why This Matters

There was quite a bit of confusion after the initial R2 launch event, with some assuming all R2s would eventually support higher levels of autonomy and others expecting LIDAR to be available later.

Rivian confirmed that early models would not include Lidar and would not support retrofitting it in the future. This clarification came in follow-up coverage, including a detailed breakdown from RivianTrackr.

This stance stands in contrast to a broader trend across the EV industry. Most automakers are moving toward flexible autonomy solutions, whether through subscription models, upgradeable hardware, or modular sensor packages. Even Tesla allows customers to upgrade from HW3 to HW4.

Rivian’s current approach, with no Lidar path for early R2s, feels like a step back in terms of future-proofing and has caused understandable frustration among early supporters.

They too, will have to wait.

What We Know About Rivian AI and RAP1

Let’s talk tech for a second. The RAP1 chip is Rivian’s first custom-built autonomy chip. It’s designed to process data from the R2’s cameras and radar in real-time, making smart decisions without relying on a massive GPU farm.

Rivian AI is also software-forward, meaning it can grow through OTA updates, just like Tesla. But again, it all comes down to data, and right now, Rivian’s data pool is a fraction of Tesla’s. It’s worth keeping expectations in check.

One thing that might help Rivian catch up is their vertical integration. Much like Apple, they’re building their own hardware and software stack. This should allow them to iterate faster once they reach critical mass.

Wrap-Up: Disappointed but Still Hopeful

This news was a mix of excitement and frustration. On the one hand, it was great to hear that Rivian plans to release Lidar-equipped R2 variants starting in late 2026.

But the letdown is that this hardware will not be available in the first wave of deliveries, and there’s no retrofit option for early adopters.

Because of that, I’ve decided to hold off on taking delivery. I’m still confident in the R2 platform, the Rivian community, and the company’s long-term direction—but I’ll be waiting for the version that truly fits my needs.

What about you? If you’re an early reservation holder, are you holding off like I am, or are you planning to move forward with the first release?

Let me know in the comments or say hi on your next EV road trip.

How to Place a Rivian R2 Pre Order

To initiate your Rivian R2 order, navigate to the official Rivian website and fill out the necessary form. Upon completing the form and submitting your $150 CAD refundable deposit, you’re good to go…or good to wait in line at least 😉

READ MORE: My Tesla Model Y Order

FAQ: Rivian R2 Lidar and Autonomy

All Rivian R2 images downloaded from Rivian’s website