CNBC: Rivian Autonomy+ outperforms Super Cruise on the highway but falls short of Tesla FSD in the city
According to CNBC’s assessment following test drives, Rivian’s Autonomy+ driver-assistance system outperformed GM’s Super Cruise on highways, but still lags behind Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) on city streets and for point-to-point trips. A CNBC reporter tested the Rivian R1T and the Tesla Model Y in Michigan, covering a total of hundreds of miles.
Autonomy+ can largely take control of the Rivian pickup on highways. Like other driver-assistance systems, it can control speed, braking, and steering. However, the system does not yet respond autonomously to traffic lights and road signs: it recognizes them and alerts the driver. Autonomy+ also does not yet perform automatic lane changes. Rivian expects to introduce point-to-point driving later this year.
During a test of Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) over nearly 200 miles of rural roads and in Ann Arbor, the system navigated traffic lights, interchanges, and highway exits. According to CNBC, it also parked the car several times—including parallel parking—and handled roadwork zones and a truck that partially blocked the lane.
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James Philbin, Rivian’s senior vice president of autonomy and artificial intelligence, called the next major step for the company the ability to fully drive the car using a system similar to Tesla’s. Rivian expects to improve safety through its suite of sensors: the system uses at least 10 wide-dynamic-range cameras, five radars, and mapping data. Early next year, the company also plans to add lidar to the R2 model.
Tesla relies on cameras and a machine vision system. CNBC reports that the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration intensified its investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system earlier this year after identifying several accidents. Among them was a fatal accident in which, according to the regulator, the system failed to adequately warn the driver about limited visibility, particularly due to sun glare or fog.
No car currently on the market is fully self-driving, so the driver must keep an eye on the road and be ready to take control immediately. A Tesla FSD subscription costs $99 per month, while Rivian’s Autonomy+ costs $49.99 per month or $2,500 for lifetime access. GM offers Super Cruise for $39.99 per month or $399 per year.
