Jan 23 (Reuters) - Electric-vehicle maker Rivian plans to launch its advanced

hands-free driver assistance systems in 2025 and its "eyes-off" systems in 2026, CEO RJ Scaringe

said on Thursday.

An advanced driver assistance system that enables drivers to take their hands off the wheel

and eyes off the road will add an "enormous amount of value to customers," Scaringe said.

Automakers have been competing in recent years to introduce more autonomous driving features

such as lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control into their vehicles.

Advancing driver assistance technology will give buyers their "time back," Scaringe said,

allowing them to get on their phones, read books or send emails while at the wheel.

Developing such capabilities in systems is "something we're hyper focused on," Scaringe

said.

Rivian's Gen 2 vehicles are currently equipped with the "Rivian Autonomy Platform," which

assists drivers but still requires their continuous attention and control of the vehicle,

similar to features offered by some other automakers.

Scaringe's announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of advanced driver assistance

systems, as leading EV makers such as Tesla pivot toward self-driving technology and

robotaxis.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration earlier this month opened a probe

into 2.6 million Tesla vehicles following reports of accidents involving a feature that allows

users to remotely operate their cars.

TRUMP IMPACT

The company also does not see substantial risk to its loan for a Georgia plant from U.S.

President Donald Trump's executive orders aimed at the EV industry.

Earlier in January, Rivian and the U.S. Department of Energy finalized a loan agreement for

up to $6.6 billion to help build the EV maker's production facility in Georgia.

Trump on Monday revoked a 2021 executive order issued by his predecessor Joe Biden, which

aimed to ensure that, by 2030, half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. would be electric.

In addition, Trump also called for ending a waiver that allows states to adopt zero-emission

vehicle rules by 2035 and said his administration would consider ending EV tax credits.

Trump's threat to impose duties of 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada has also cast a

shadow over automakers and their suppliers.

Automakers' supply chains in Mexico, which have seen hundreds of billions of dollars in

investment over decades, will need to be re-mapped or would carry higher costs, Scaringe added,

saying that the impact "could be really damaging."

"So we're watching that really closely."