Will Gen3 hardware be included with Launch Edition later?

[Tony S]

Do we know if Rivian will include Gen3 LiDAR/RAP1 to LE for free ($$?), or LE will end when Gen3 is introduced?

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[mic-chris]

No one knows for sure but most say HIGHLY UNLIKELY. My opinion is 99% chance of NO it will not be on any launch editions. This is based on manufacturing difference in the middle of a run. Expectation would be MY 2028 (available in 2027) which I personally would think launch is done by then. But we don't know.

 

[CharonPDX]

Yeah, I see Launch as the way of making "R2 with the old hardware" seem more special.

Rivian did say that Gen 3/LiDAR would become available late this year; so I'm imagining all 2026 will be Gen 2 "Launch Edition", and they'll retire "Launch" when introducing 2027 with Gen 3.

 

[Ecupip]

I saw a post from another user somewhere that said there will be no launch editions with the gen3/lidar. Take it for what it's worth. I wouldn't anticipate it either.

 

[Jeremy3292]

Highly, highly unlikely they give you Gen3 hardware AND Autonomy+ included on LE. No way

 

[emroch]

My money is on no overlap between LE and Gen3. The LE includes ~$3500 of free options, which feels about right for the price of a HW upgrade. That is, they'll be willing to "discount" $3500 in either config, but you get either LE freebies OR Gen3 HW.

Since reservation holders have been told they will be able to get the LE in Dec '26 - Feb '27, I'm uncertain when the Gen3 rollout is likely to happen. Rivian has claimed they will ship this year, so will the Premium trims start with Gen3? Or is Rivian expecting to be able to ramp faster and pull in those reservation timeframes and switch over to Gen3 before Dec 31?

I think the most likely case is that all MY27 vehicles (including all LE) will be Gen2.5 and all MY28 will be Gen3. Whether they make two versions of Premium/Standard trims or jump straight to MY28 for those is unclear.

 

[Noplacelikeloam]

Launch is a marketing push, nothing more. We need to stop with this "special edition" nonsense. If it works, they will extend, maybe add features. The only logic here is wether it would help sales. If it will, then they'll do it.

 

[emroch]

Launch is a marketing push, nothing more. We need to stop with this "special edition" nonsense. If it works, they will extend, maybe add features. The only logic here is wether it would help sales. If it will, then they'll do it.

I don't think they will change what is included in the package they call "launch edition". The point is to have an exclusive, time limited deal to pull sales forward due to FOMO or genuine excitement. If they extend it or offer the same options in some future package deal, then they are shooting themselves in the foot for future launches where customers may be happier to wait, messing with revenue targets.
Also, if they change the meaning of "launch edition" now, they'll have a hoard of angry customers that already bought the initial version. When Gen3 comes out, the expectation is that there will be a clearly defined cutover point with prior announcement, so it won't be a surprise if you get Gen2 one day and Gen3 the next.

 

[Noplacelikeloam]

I don't think they will change what is included in the package they call "launch edition". The point is to have an exclusive, time limited deal to pull sales forward due to FOMO or genuine excitement. If they extend it or offer the same options in some future package deal, then they are shooting themselves in the foot for future launches where customers may be happier to wait, messing with revenue targets.
Also, if they change the meaning of "launch edition" now, they'll have a hoard of angry customers that already bought the initial version. When Gen3 comes out, the expectation is that there will be a clearly defined cutover point with prior announcement, so it won't be a surprise if you get Gen2 one day and Gen3 the next.

Are people really buying in to this anymore? Surely not.

 

[dleepnw]

Doubt it. It would make current Launch Edition owners pretty pissed I imagine. Rivian had to incentivize the non-LiDAR R2 which is why they are throwing in Autonomy+, tow package and the key fob with the LE. Once LiDAR/RAP is ready, I'm pretty sure LE will stop being made. Or those with early reservations will have to choose between LE non-LiDAR ot non-LE with LiDAR. Wouldn't make much sense otherwise.

 

[sparked]

Nobody knows. You could argue both ways. We don't even know how many launch editions they are making or exactly when the run of launch editions end. Just have to wait till Rivian says something.

 

[bronco7777]

Obviously nothing is known right now in terms of what pricing will be for the LIDAR/CHIP upgrade once available. Rivian will not reveal that for obvious reasons.

But lets assume the LE version is stopped in the fall and they begin offering the new R2's with LIDAR. Any guesses as to what that actual LIDAR price upgrade will be? At that point, If the Performance model is $57,990 (without the launch freebies)...what guesses do you have price-wise to add the LIDAR/CHIP? Does the Performance model then jump to $59,990 (with LIDAR) or 62/63K (with LIDAR)?

 

[CalDriver]

It's not really a "Launch Edition" if there is a second, revised version of it with a different set of capabilities versus let's say making an under-the-hood technical fix if they identify a fault with some component.

I therefore agree with others that it is unlikely.

 

[sparked]

It's not really a "Launch Edition" if there is a second, revised version of it with a different set of capabilities versus let's say making an under-the-hood technical fix if they identify a fault with some component.

I therefore agree with others that it is unlikely.

Technically the underlying hardware for RAP1/LiDAR won't have any consumer facing capability difference since any differentiating software won't show up for at least a year or more after it comes out.

They will just dump the new hardware in on the production line and we shouldn't see any difference at all based on what Rivian employees are saying.

 

[Dark-Fx]

I wouldn't be surprised to see costs for the gen3 subscription/purchase go up from where things are at right now, so that sort of precludes gen3 making it into the launch edition cars at all.

Part of me believes they might be keeping the pricing low because of the lawsuits about not delivering hands-free on driver+. Certainly seems like it would reduce their liabilities if they could point to the current price and say they give you even more than what they said for gen1 for this cost.

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