Rivian will release its point-to-point driving feature by invitation to some vehicle owners in late 2026.

Electrek, an electric-vehicle news outlet, reported on Oct. 15 that the program will target Autonomy+ paying subscribers among U.S. owners of the second-generation R1 and the R2. It will expand to all customers in 2027.

Not all paying subscribers will be able to take part. Rivian will prioritize applicants who maintain a paid subscription rather than a free trial, frequently use autonomy features and have a good recent safety record. It will also consider region and vehicle model and begin in some U.S. states. First-generation R1 owners and users in Canada will be excluded.

Selected owners must continue to meet eligibility requirements. Rivian will reassess eligibility every 30 days and can revoke access if a user cancels Autonomy+, sells the vehicle or fails to meet the criteria.

Participants must use preview features weekly and log issues in safe situations. They must respond to monthly surveys and take part in interviews or focus groups, and agree to data collection that includes sharing location information and camera data. They must also sign a participation agreement that includes a non-disclosure agreement covering program details. The primary driver must inform other drivers that the vehicle is enrolled in the program.

Participants will receive new driver-assistance features first through over-the-air updates and will be sent newsletters. There will be no separate compensation. Autonomy+ costs $2,500 as a one-time payment or $49.99 per month, and Rivian began charging from April after the free trial period ended. That means participants will pay subscription fees while also taking part in product testing without separate compensation.

Point-to-point driving is the next step in Rivian's driver-assistance technology. Universal Hands-Free, introduced in software update 2025.46 released in December last year, supports driving with hands off the steering wheel on about 3.5 million miles of marked roads in the United States and Canada. It does not stop or slow for traffic lights or stop signs. Point-to-point driving handles the full route from departure to destination.

Rivian Chief Executive RJ Scaringe (RJ 스캐린지) described the first version as "Level 2++" at the company's July second-quarter earnings release, meaning hands off the steering wheel while keeping eyes on the road. It is targeting 2027 for driving that allows eyes off the road, and 2028 for Level 4 autonomous driving. That is later than the eyes-free system plan for 2026 that Scaringe presented in January 2025.

Rivian also plans to introduce third-generation autonomous-driving hardware in late 2026, including its in-house RAP1 chip and lidar. The early access program, however, targets the already-in-use second-generation R1 and R2 vehicles.

Tesla previously required early participants in its "Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta" to sign non-disclosure agreements and selected users based on safety scores. Rivian also chose an approach of validating the feature with a limited group of customers before expanding it in stages. Late 2026 will be an initial release for some invited customers, with expansion to all paying subscribers planned for 2027.