Rivian owners sue over false promises on self-driving features

Rivian is under fire as a class action lawsuit alleges that the electric vehicle manufacturer misled customers about the self-driving capabilities of its R1T truck and R1S SUV. The legal complaint was lodged on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and targets the initial models of these vehicles. The lawsuit claims Rivian suggested that its flagship vehicles would support hands-free, eyes-off driving—characteristics associated with Level 3 autonomy as defined by the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE). This level of automation would allow the vehicle to manage steering, acceleration, and braking autonomously in certain conditions, such as on highways. However, it does not imply complete autonomy, as drivers are still required to remain alert and ready to take control. According to the complaint, Rivian allegedly made false promises through a coordinated marketing campaign over five years, asserting that its driver assistance system, known as Driver+, would be a standard feature across all vehicles produced. The lawsuit references statements made by Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe during TechCrunch Disrupt 2022, where he discussed the company’s aspirations for autonomous driving. The complaint asserts, "No software update—regardless of its sophistication—will enable its Gen 1 Vehicles to perform as advertised," indicating that Rivian was aware that these vehicles would never achieve Level 3 autonomy, yet continued to promote their supposed capabilities to entice consumers. Rivian has chosen not to comment on the ongoing litigation. The lawsuit, which includes three plaintiffs, accuses the company of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment, with the plaintiffs represented by Coleman Law and Tycko & Zavareei, who have requested a jury trial. This isn’t the first time Rivian has faced legal troubles; last year, the company settled a class action lawsuit for $250 million after a sudden price increase for its R1 models. Notably, Rivian's first-generation R1T and R1S vehicles lack hands-free driving capabilities, but their second-generation models, revamped in 2024, do feature this technology. The updated vehicles are equipped with the "Rivian Autonomy Platform," boasting 11 cameras and five radar sensors, along with a computer system ten times more powerful than their predecessors. The advanced driver assistance system in these newer models offers features like adaptive cruise control and highway assist, allowing some degree of hands-free operation. Last year, Rivian introduced a "Universal Hands-Free" driving feature via a software update for the second-generation R1 vehicles, enabling drivers to disengage from manual control on over 3.5 million miles of U.S. and Canadian roads, provided lane markings are visible. Rivian is not alone in facing scrutiny over claims related to self-driving technology; Tesla has also encountered legal challenges regarding its Full Self-Driving software, with some owners alleging that the company failed to deliver on its promises of full autonomy. The California Department of Motor Vehicles has investigated Tesla’s marketing practices, leading to a ruling in favor of the DMV, although penalties have been avoided for now as Tesla adjusts its marketing terminology.