via TechCrunch
Rivian Owners File Class Action Lawsuit Over Misleading Self-Driving Promises
Rivian is facing a class action lawsuit alleging the electric vehicle (EV) maker made false claims about the autonomous driving capabilities of its first-generation R1T truck and R1S SUV models. The complaint, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, centers on Rivian’s representations that its flagship vehicles would achieve hands-free, eyes-off driving—a capability defined as Level 3 autonomy by the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE).
Under SAE standards, Level 3 autonomy means a vehicle can handle steering, acceleration, and braking in specific conditions (e.g., highways or low speeds), but the driver must remain attentive and ready to take over. The lawsuit alleges Rivian orchestrated a coordinated five-year national marketing campaign—including CEO RJ Scaringe’s appearance at TechCrunch Disrupt 2022—that falsely promised every vehicle would include its hands-free Driver+ system as standard.
“No software update—no matter how sophisticated—will enable its Gen 1 Vehicles to perform as advertised,” the complaint states. “Rivian unquestionably knew that its Gen 1 Vehicles would never be capable of Level 3 autonomy or ‘true hands-free driving’ yet continued to tout the supposed capabilities of its vehicles to induce consumers to purchase them.”
Rivian declined to comment, citing pending litigation. The suit, brought by three named plaintiffs and represented by Coleman Law and Tycko & Zavareei, alleges fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment, with a jury trial requested.
This is not Rivian’s first legal headwind. In 2025, the company paid $250 million to settle a shareholder class action lawsuit over a sudden 2022 price hike on its R1 models. Notably, first-generation R1T and R1S vehicles lack hands-free driving. In contrast, second-generation models—redesigned in 2024 with a new electrical architecture, sensor stack, and the “Rivian Autonomy Platform” featuring 11 cameras, five radar sensors, and a 10x more powerful computer—do offer this capability.
As the automotive industry moves toward Level 3 and higher autonomy in 2026, this case underscores growing scrutiny on marketing claims versus actual technology deployment. Rivian’s second-gen system initially included adaptive cruise control, with enhanced driver assistance features rolling out via over-the-air updates, but first-gen owners argue they were misled about future-proofing.