Rivian R2 LiDAR and RAP1 Chip to Reach Customers in 2027
Employees will receive the third-generation autonomy hardware later this year, while paying customers wait until 2027.
Rivian has clarified that its third-generation autonomy hardware, featuring the in-house RAP1 chip and LiDAR, will begin rolling out to employees later this year, with customer deliveries scheduled for 2027.
What Happened
At an investor conference in New York this week, Rivian VP of Investor Relations Chip Newcom stated that the RAP1 production units are prioritized for the R2. The plan is for "our third-generation computer plus the LiDAR to go into the vehicle later this year for employees and then start rolling that out to customers next year," Newcom said. This timeline follows the R2's June launch, which initially lacked the hardware unveiled at the company's AI & Autonomy Day last December. The RAP1 chip is rated at 1,600 sparse INT8 TOPS. Newcom did not specify when in 2027 customer deliveries will begin.
Why It Matters
The hardware update addresses previous expectations that LiDAR-equipped R2s would reach customers by "late 2026," a timeframe that now applies only to internal staff. This shift may affect potential buyers waiting for the full autonomy stack. Meanwhile, Rivian is pushing point-to-point driving capabilities to existing R1 Gen 2 vehicles and later hardware revisions starting at the end of the year, ensuring current Autonomy+ subscribers receive updates without needing new hardware. The company also highlighted that LiDAR costs have dropped to "a few hundred dollars," significantly down from thousands or tens of thousands in previous years, which supports margins as Rivian moves away from paying external silicon providers.
The Bottom Line
Rivian confirms LiDAR and RAP1 chips for the R2 will reach employees in late 2026 and customers in 2027, while point-to-point driving rolls out to existing fleets this year. The company continues to advance its Uber robotaxi partnership, targeting service launch by late 2028.
