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Jose Castillo Founder and Editor
Rivian Rivian R2 Rivian R1T Rivian R1S
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Jose Castillo is the founder and editor of RivianTrackr, an independent publication he started to cover Rivian from an owner's point of view. He has followed the company since early in its consumer history and has owned and leased several Rivians over the years, including multiple R1T and R1S vehicles. Today he drives an R1S and an R2 in Florida and uses Universal Hands-Free for his daily driving.

Most of his coverage comes from firsthand access rather than press releases. He was at the R2 First Drive in Park City for hands-on time with the production R2 and RivianOS 2.0, and he reported from SXSW when Rivian revealed the full R2 lineup. He has spoken directly with Rivian leaders like Wassym Bensaid and James Philbin about where the company is taking its software and autonomy work.

Before RivianTrackr, Jose worked at Apple as a software developer, which is part of why he follows Rivian's software and autonomy side as closely as he does. He has also helped more than 400 people order their own Rivians through the site. The whole thing stays independent, written by an owner for other owners.

Rivian Care

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.

R2 Half Moon Grey

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.

2026.15.30 Rivian Software Update

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.