- Rivian started rolling out a big software update on Thursday.
- It brings smarter charging, improved driver-assistance features and richer audio.
- Many of the upgrades are reserved for Gen 2 R1S and R1T models only.
Rivian owners can expect cheaper charging, more opportunities to drive hands-free and improved audio thanks to a software update that started rolling out on Thursday.
Lots of car companies say they’re trying their level best to make software a bigger part of what they do. Because by turning cars into “smartphones on wheels”—a tired phrase, but also spot on—automakers can sell subscriptions, do recall repairs without touching a vehicle and make cars more desirable over time.
In a lot of ways, Rivian’s far ahead of most other automakers, rolling out a steady march of software updates that fix bugs and add capabilities. Let’s dive into what’s in the California startup’s latest release.
Smarter Charging
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Source: Rivian
“Schedule Recommendation” will enable owners who plug in at home—which is most of them—to take advantage of the lowest electricity rates. Right now, Rivian owners (and owners of many other EVs) can plug in their vehicles and schedule charging to start at a particular time. That way, they can guess when electricity is cheapest and set their truck to start pulling juice at, say, 10 p.m.
The new feature, available on both first- and second-generation R1S and R1T models, will automate all of that, using actual information from an owner’s local utility. According to Rivian, some owners can cut their annual charging outlay by 20%, or up to $900.
“This feature is designed to work with a growing number of providers, and your vehicle will automatically optimize its charging times to coincide with the lowest electricity rates,” Rivian said.
Earlier this year, Rivian struck a partnership with WeaveGrid, a tech startup that helps vehicles interface with utility grids.
Improved Audio
Rivian says Gen 2 owners should experience “richer sound” after this update. And drivers of all Rivians will now be able to customize the six preset equalizer settings, plus create their own preferences through two new equalizer slots.
Better Driver Assistance, With More Hands-Free Opportunities
Rivian is touting two key updates to its advanced driver-assistance suite. These are coming only to Gen 2 vehicles, which are equipped with the automaker’s latest sensor hardware and more powerful computers than its first-gen SUVs and trucks.
Rivian Hands-Free Driving
Photo by: Rivian
First up is “Co-Steer,” also known as cooperative steering. This allows drivers to nudge their Rivian within a lane without getting booted out of Highway Assist, the startup’s hands-on driver-assist feature that automatically steers, accelerates and brakes on the highway. So owners may be able to steer clear of a semi or the like without having to disengage and re-engange the system.
Furthermore, Rivian is increasing the availability of hands-free, eyes-on driving, which it calls Enhanced Highway Assist.
“With the .34 update, we’re increasing the availability of hands-free driving by increasing the performance of our onboard perception. This improved perception allowed us to substantially close the gap between HWA (hands-on autonomy) and EHWA (hands-free autonomy),” Rivian spokesperson Evan Barbour told InsideEVs via email.
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Source: Patrick George
Rivian says owners should see a roughly 50% boost in the availability of Enhanced Highway Assist, depending on where they live. That doesn’t mean Rivian added 50% more miles of highway to the system’s maps. Rather, Barbour explained, an overall performance boost means that hands-free driving will be an option in a wider variety of scenarios—like on winding roads, in construction zones and in inclement weather.
Rivian launched hands-free driver assistance in March, becoming one of only a handful of manufacturers to offer such a system. It says it has a lot more coming on that front.
During a recent interview on the InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said hands-free point-to-point driving would arrive in late 2026. He has also said eyes-off features—meaning true autonomy in at least some situations—would start to roll out next year.
We expect to learn a lot more at Rivian’s big autonomy event later this year. Stay tuned.
Contact the author: Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com
