Three customers have filed a class-action lawsuit against Rivian, claiming the company misled buyers by advertising its first-generation R1T and R1S vehicles as being capable of hands-free, Level 3 self-driving.

The lawsuit — filed on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Central District of California — argues that the EV maker “unquestionably knew that its Gen 1 Vehicles would never be capable of Level 3 autonomy or ‘true hands-free driving’.”

According to the complaint, however, the company “continued to tout the supposed capabilities of its vehicles to induce consumers to purchase them.”

The plaintiffs seek a nationwide class certification on behalf of purchasers and lessees of model year 2022–2024 R1T and R1S vehicles equipped with the company’s ‘Driver+’ platform.

The filing traces the alleged marketing scheme back to November 2018 — when Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe unveiled prototypes of the R1T and R1S at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

According to the filing, Scaringe stated during the presentation that the vehicles would integrate cameras, radar, high-precision GPS, and two front-facing LiDAR sensors to deliver a level of on-road and off-road self-driving capability not previously seen in the market.

From late 2018 through at least October 2020, Rivian‘s website stated that Level 3 autonomy would be available on every Rivian vehicle, the complaint alleges.

The company’s website marketed to prospective buyers they would be able to take their hands off the...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxQYVBJYk9Ja0tLSmJFTHJfN3RH...