Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said it will soon be “inconceivable” to purchase a car that lacks self-driving capabilities by 2030. Speaking in a recent episode of the “No Priors” podcast, Scaringe predicted that autonomous driving will become a standard feature in vehicles within the next decade. “I think by 2030 it’ll be inconceivable to buy a car and not expect it to drive itself,” Scaringe said. “Maybe that’s sooner. We hope it’s sooner—we’re targeting a little sooner than that.” He compared the future of self-driving cars to features once considered optional, like airbags and air conditioning, which are now taken for granted. Scaringe emphasized that the evolution of autonomous technology will go beyond basic driving. He envisions vehicles that can handle complex tasks such as picking up children from school, dropping passengers at the airport, or even running errands like grocery shopping or ordering spare parts. Rivian, based in Irvine, California, is one of the few U.S.-based automakers actively developing self-driving technology, alongside Tesla, Alphabet’s Waymo, and Ford. However, the company faces intense global competition, particularly from Chinese manufacturers like BYD, XPeng, and Baidu, which have gained significant traction in international markets. The company is preparing to launch its R2 SUV later this year, its most affordable electric vehicle to date, priced at $45,000. The R2 is expected to play a key role in expanding Rivian’s reach in the mass-market EV segment. In its latest earnings report released Thursday, Rivian reported full-year 2025 revenue of $5.39 billion—an 8% increase from 2024. The company delivered 42,247 vehicles to customers during the year. Despite a 5% dip in its stock price following the release, shares rose nearly 15% in after-hours trading and are up about 12% over the past year.