- Rivian is working on a big software update that will bring the R2’s interface to all R1S and R1T EVs.
- Rivian OS 2.0 comes with updated graphics. A handy Waze integration for real-time alerts is in the pipeline.
- The R2, which is already shipping with Rivian OS 2.0, is also getting Waze alerts.
Rivian is still not adding Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to its electric cars, but it’s slowly getting to the point where these two smartphone mirroring features won’t be needed at all.
That’s because owners of the R1S, R1T, and R2 have pretty much everything they need directly on the car’s main screen, and now the automaker is bringing yet another feature that has traditionally been reserved for people who rely on their smartphones for navigation.
As part of a comprehensive software update, Rivian is bringing Waze’s real-time alerts to all of its passenger EVs, including the first-generation R1S and R1T, which use older hardware. That’s great news for the company’s early adopters, who have missed out on some newer features that were introduced on the refreshed R1S and R1T.
Wassym Bensaid, Rivian’s Chief Software Officer, confirmed that software version 2026.31, which brings Waze real-time alerts, is coming to all R1 models, though the rollout schedule is still unknown. What’s more, it’s unclear if Rivian drivers will be able to add their own reports through the in-vehicle navigation system or if it’s just a read-only type of situation.
But adding Waze alerts is just one of the perks of the latest software version. The release brings Rivian OS 2.0 to the R1 lineup, a redesigned infotainment system that’s touted as being faster and more intuitive than the outgoing version. It’s the same experience that’s already shipping with R2, and R1 owners will soon get to experience it, too. The company’s software boss said that the R1 software was rebuilt from the ground up, and that the goal is to have a single core operating system across the lineup.
Unifying the software experience is a great way of keeping on top of potential issues that may pop up. It also means that owners of older Rivians have a higher chance of getting software updates for longer, keeping those cars fresh as they age.
However, what neither the R1S nor the R1T is getting is the R2’s Halo Wheels–the pair of multi-functional, steering wheel-mounted scroll wheels that can control pretty much every feature without the driver having to fiddle with the central touchscreen. R1 models, meanwhile, have a more traditional setup with thumb controls and click-wheel scroll pads.
