Owners of Rivian's first-generation R1T and R1S vehicles filed a class-action lawsuit on June 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleging the EV maker misrepresented the self-driving capabilities of those vehicles.
June 18, 2026 · Central District of California
Rivian Sued Over "Self-Driving" Promises Gen 1 Owners Say Never Arrived
Three owners filed a class action alleging false advertising — claiming Driver+ was marketed for five years as "standard on all vehicles" and capable of "Level 3 autonomy," while Gen 1 trucks still lack hands-free driving and, the suit says, no software update can deliver it.
3
Named plaintiffs, seeking class status nationwide
5 yrs
Driver+ marketed as "standard on all vehicles"
3
Claims: fraud, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment
The hardware generation gap
Gen 2's 2024 overhaul brought ~10× the computing power of Gen 1 — the core of the dispute.
Gen 1 · 2021–2024
Basic sensor suite
Driver+: adaptive cruise + lane keeping (Level 2-equivalent)
No hands-free — suit says no update can reach Level 3
Gen 2 · 2024 overhaul
11 cameras + 5 radars
Universal Hands-Free across 3.5M+ miles of roads
Autonomy+ option: $49.99/mo or $2,500 outright
Frustrated owners
"Promised Level 3-equivalent capability but left behind as only Gen 2 got it" — arguing the hardware is insufficient and the feature can never be delivered.
Cautious view
Contracts carry no guarantee of specific future features — owners should simply wait. Rivian's own docs state Driver+ is not Level 3 and needs constant attention.
The broader backdrop
EV makers face mounting scrutiny over overstated autonomous-driving claims — including ongoing Tesla FSD litigation across multiple countries.
Rivian itself settled a separate shareholder class action over pricing changes for $250M in 2025 . This suit could cover Gen 1 buyers and lessees nationwide — potentially thousands of people.
Continue reading The rest of this article is for AI News Blitz readers. Choose an option below to keep reading.
Already purchased? Sign in ✓ Signed in — this article isn’t included in your current plan.Unlocking the full article…