tech
I drove Tesla FSD, Rivian Autonomy+ ‘hands-free’ driving systems. Here’s how they compare
Rivian is trying to catch up to Tesla's "hands-free" capabilities, but with additional safety guardrails that the Elon Musk company doesn't have.
TL;DR
- Rivian launched its AI assistant and Autonomy+ system on May 12, 2026, aiming to compete with Tesla's FSD.
- Autonomy+ is currently superior to legacy systems like GM's Super Cruise but trails Tesla's FSD in non-highway and point-to-point driving.
- Rivian plans to introduce point-to-point driving capabilities later this year.
- A key operational difference is that Tesla's system handles traffic lights and signs, while Rivian's alerts drivers to them but does not act on them.
- Tesla's FSD demonstrated advanced capabilities in complex scenarios like roundabouts and construction zones, which Rivian's system is still developing.
- Rivian is investing in a multimodal sensor stack including radar and planned lidar, while Tesla relies primarily on a camera-based system.
- Both systems require driver supervision, and concerns remain about driver inattentiveness and system handovers.
- Tesla's FSD has faced scrutiny from the NHTSA due to crashes, including a fatal incident.
- Pricing for subscriptions varies, with Tesla at $99/month, Rivian at $49.99/month or $2,500 lifetime, and GM at $39.99/month or $399/year.