The Sunday Drive, Rivian Week in Review, July 20 to July 26, 2026
Rivian halts Half Moon Grey R2 deliveries, sues the federal government over tariff refunds, and puts out a charging adapter warning. Plus R2 battery pack costs, a tire efficiency breakdown,… · Rivian
VION Grey R1 Roof Sunshade Review for the Ocean Coast Interior
VION just dropped a grey version of their R1 roof sunshade that matches the Ocean Coast interior on the R1T and R1S. They sent one over to test, so here is a quick look plus where to grab one with 10% off. Black is still around for the Black Mountain crowd too.
NHTSA Reopens the Rivian Toe Link Issue and Now It Covers 114,922 Vehicles
NHTSA reopened the Rivian rear toe link issue in late May, and the new investigation covers 114,922 R1T and R1S vehicles, far more than the roughly 20,000 caught up in January’s recall. An investigation is not a recall and it may close with nothing, but the jump from a few thousand serviced cars to nearly the entire modern R1 fleet is the part worth watching, especially landing weeks before R2 deliveries start.
Rivian Care Expansion Adds Five New States
Rivian Care is no longer Texas-only. The optional Assurant-backed protection program is now live in six states, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Oregon, and Texas, with a national rollout still on the way. Here’s what’s covered and how to get it.
Rivian R2 Buyer Reference, Every Spec That Matters Before You Order
Range, price, power, and all the stuff Rivian leaves off the comparison page. I lined up every R2 trim, every spec that actually matters before you order, and which one’s the smart buy. The twist: the longest-range R2 isn’t the priciest one.
Rivian R2 Shows Up at Rivian Space With Deliveries Days Away
Drew on X spotted an R2 sitting out in the open at the Pittsburgh Rivian Space, demo units are landing ahead of the June 9th test drives, and with a VIN ending in 581 it looks like there are well over 1,000 already configured. June’s here, which means R2 deliveries start this month.
The Sunday Drive, Rivian Week in Review, May 25 to May 31, 2026
R2 ordering opens June 9th with Performance Launch Edition pricing locked in at $57,990, Performance range beats the Tesla Model Y Performance, Wassym hits the Decoder podcast, and Forest Edge interior makes a limited time return for R1.
What’s Coming in Rivian’s 2026.15.30 Hotfix
A new Rivian software update is in testing and rolling out soon. Version 2026.15.30 is a hotfix aimed almost entirely at Rivian Assistant, with cleaner calling and messaging, smarter climate and navigation, quieter chimes, and a language-based availability change that finally opens the assistant up to owners in Quebec. Coming to both Gen 1 and Gen 2 R1T and R1S.
2026.15
Software version 2026.15.30 is a Rivian Assistant focused hotfix for Gen 1 and Gen 2 R1T and R1S. It improves contact search and calling, text dictation, navigation route awareness, climate and calendar handling, and assistant reliability in low signal areas. It also changes assistant availability to follow your vehicle language setting instead of your region, plus a handful of profile, PIN, and driver assistance fixes.
R2 Performance EPA Range Beats the Tesla Model Y Performance
The EPA posted official R2 Performance numbers, and on 21-inch wheels it matches the Model Y Performance on efficiency while beating it on range, 330 miles to 306. The 20-inch all-terrain config gives some of that back for the rugged look.
Rivian’s AI Push Is Picking a Fight With Its Own Mission
Rivian is becoming an AI company on top of being an EV company, and the environmental cost of that shift is the question nobody at the company is really asking yet.