Rivian R2 Prototype Spotted Towing, Testing Real-World Capability

Rivian R2 Towing

RJ just dropped a big one on Instagram: the very first photo of a production-intent Rivian R2 towing a trailer out in the wild. Seeing this stage of testing gets me hyped because towing is such an important real-world capability for so many of us. Rivian hasn’t shared the official numbers yet, so we don’t know the exact capacity of…

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Video – Rivian Software 2025.34 Review

Rivian Software 2025.34 Video

Rivian’s 2025.34 update is here and I had the chance to dive into it early. The big highlights include Smart Charging Schedule Recommendation, which can save you 20% or more by automatically charging at off-peak hours, plus new custom audio profiles and refinements to the equalizer. Gen 2 owners get even more with Enhanced Highway Assist and the new Co-Steer…

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Production-Intent Rivian R2s Hit the Road for Final Validation

R2 Production-Intent Models

I’ve been keeping an eye out for this and now Rivian themselves have confirmed it, R2s are officially out in the wild. Up until now we’ve only seen unofficial photos of camo-wrapped prototypes in the wild, but this time we’ve got the real deal straight from Rivian. They shared shots of R2s being spotted across the country, noting that hundreds…

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Rivian Delivery Vans Under U.S. Safety Investigation for Seat Belt Issues

Rivian Amazon Delivery Van

Federal regulators are taking a closer look at Rivian’s electric delivery vans after concerns surfaced about the reliability of their seat belt systems. The U.S. Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) confirmed Wednesday that it has launched a preliminary evaluation into the issue. According to ODI, the investigation covers about 17,198 vans built between 2022 and 2023. Regulators say they’ve received…

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More Improvements Coming to Rivian Performance Upgrade Later This Year, Confirmed by Wassym

R1T Sport Drive Mode

After sharing my video yesterday about the Rivian Performance Upgrade on my R1S Dual Large, Rivian’s Head of Software, Wassym Bensaid, jumped into the conversation on Twitter with some clarification. There had been rumors floating around that the All-Purpose drive mode doesn’t see any improvements from the Performance Upgrade, but that’s false. Wassym confirmed that All-Purpose mode does in fact get a…

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