Rivian faces a class action lawsuit from customers who claim the company misrepresented the autonomous driving capabilities of its R1T truck and R1S SUV. The complaint argues these first-generation vehicles cannot deliver the hands-free driving experience Rivian promised, despite marketing suggesting otherwise.

Plaintiffs allege Rivian falsely claimed the early models would achieve Level 3 autonomy, allowing steering, acceleration and braking without driver input. According to the filing, the Gen 1 vehicles lack the necessary hardware, cameras, sensors and compute power. The suit contends no software update can retrofit these capabilities, and that Rivian knew this limitation existed while continuing to promote the feature to boost sales.

Rivian rolled out its 'universal hands-free driving' software update last year, but only for its R2 models and second-generation R1 vehicles. The company declined comment when contacted about the pending litigation. This legal challenge follows a pattern of autonomous vehicle overpromising that has ensnared other automakers and tech companies.

Consumer trust in driver assistance features remains fragile across the industry. Rivian's stock has already weathered significant volatility, and this lawsuit could further complicate the company's efforts to compete with Tesla and traditional automakers in the electric vehicle market.