DETROIT — Advanced driver-assistance systems are becoming a key battleground for automakers, and a recent comparison by CNBC put Rivian’s Autonomy+ head-to-head against Tesla’s FSD (Supervised). The verdict: Rivian has leapfrogged legacy systems like GM’s Super Cruise on highways, but it still trails Tesla when it comes to navigating city streets and point-to-point trips.
Rivian’s new AI chatbot, embedded in its R1T pickup, is confident in its own abilities, calling the system ‘truly exceptional.’ But the company acknowledges it’s playing catch-up. James Philbin, Rivian’s senior vice president of autonomy and AI, told CNBC that point-to-point driving is ‘the next big leap’ for the company, a feature it expects to deliver later this year.
During hundreds of miles of test drives across Midwest highways and Michigan roads, CNBC found that Rivian’s system handled highway driving with minimal intervention, including exit ramps and some construction zones. However, it doesn’t yet change lanes on its own, a feature the company says is coming soon. On nonhighway roads, Rivian’s system detects traffic lights and signs but only alerts the driver—it doesn’t act on them.
Tesla’s FSD, in contrast, managed nearly 200 miles of rural and urban driving in a 2025 Model Y, including traffic circles, complex construction zones, and even parallel parking, all with little to no human input. The system also navigated a semitruck blocking half a lane on a two-lane road.
Pricing and Availability
The two systems differ in cost. Tesla’s FSD is available for $99 per month, while Rivian charges $49.99 per month or a one-time $2,500 for the lifetime of the vehicle. GM’s Super Cruise, which Rivian has surpassed, costs $39.99 per month or $399 annually.
Technology and Safety
Rivian credits its progress to vertical integration and a new vehicle architecture. Its system uses at least 10 high dynamic range cameras, five radars, and map data, with plans to add lidar on its R2 vehicles early next year. Tesla relies solely on cameras and a ‘vision-based’ approach, which has drawn criticism for its performance in low-visibility conditions.
Federal safety regulators are currently investigating Tesla’s FSD after several crashes, including a fatal incident in reduced visibility. Rivian’s Philbin argues that multimodal sensors like lidar can better detect hazards in such conditions, though his test drives were conducted on clear days.
Piper Sandler analyst Alexander Potter recently upgraded Rivian’s stock, citing the company’s in-house expertise and potential to monetize software as volume rises.
Despite Tesla’s long lead, Rivian’s system is considered a major step forward. Industry watchers note that GM and Ford won’t have hands-free city driving until 2028, while Rivian is targeting it this year.
Still, no system on sale today is fully autonomous. Drivers must remain attentive and ready to take over at any time. The handover can be abrupt, and concerns about over-reliance persist, with YouTube filled with examples of misuse.
As the race heats up, Rivian’s AI remains optimistic about its future. ‘I hope that we can even exceed the Tesla system because of our investments in a more robust sensor stack,’ Philbin said.
Source: www.cnbc.com — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/15/rivian-tesla-self-driving-adas-fsd.html
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