Rivian is partnering with ChargeScape to connect its EVs to utility-managed home charging programs across North America, giving owners a new way to cut charging costs while helping utilities balance demand. It is the second deal of its kind after last year's WeaveGrid collaboration, and a sign Rivian is leaning into its batteries as a grid resource.
Rivian's new Rocklin location combines charging, retail, service, and demo under one roof for the first time. Friend of the site Mark went and shared his take.
Big one this week, straight from the R2 First Drive event in Park City. Ordering opened, I drove the R2 on road and off road, RivianOS 2.0 got its first real look, the autonomy roadmap filled in with Universal Hands-Free 2.0 and Point-to-Point, and a lot more.
RJ Scaringe went on Masters of Scale and put fresh dates on Rivian's autonomy rollout, with supervised Point-to-Point arriving this year and eyes off driving next year. Here is what he confirmed on the VW deal, Uber robotaxis, and Mind Robotics, plus where I land on whether the timeline actually holds.
The R2 does not come with a traditional FM tuner. It leans on iHeartRadio instead, streaming your local stations over the internet for free. For most owners that is a non issue, since FM usage on the R1 was already sitting in the single digits. The real catch is what happens once you drive past the last bar of signal.
I talked R2 autonomy with Rivian's James Philbin at the media event, from UHF 2.0 and automatic parking to point to point, and walked away thinking the buy now versus wait question has a clearer answer than it used to.
Rivian has pushed the first over-the-air update to R2, the introductory release that brings the vehicle's software up to its launch feature set. The update headlines RivianOS 2.0, a reimagined operating system that unifies Navigation, Media, Energy, and quick controls, along with the Haptic Halo Wheels, Universal Hands-Free across 3.5 million miles of roads, Lane Change on Command, and Google Maps-powered navigation with built-in charging. Rivian Assistant, the Gear Guard suite, vehicle hotspot, and garage door opener are not in this release and are expected in a later OTA.
Rivian has filled the Gear Shop with its first full run of R2 accessories, from two wheel and tire sets and a compact spare to crossbars and a HEST camping mattress. Here is everything that dropped and what each one costs.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe just gave the first real timeline for the R3X, confirming the rally-inspired model is coming but still "a couple of years away." Here is what he told The Drive in Park City, and what that phrasing actually narrows down.
Universal Hands-Free 2.0 arrives in Q3 and finally takes the system off the highway, adding stop light and stop sign response, automatic lane changes on surface streets, Auto Park, and On-Ramp to Off-Ramp routing. It is the groundwork Rivian needs before Point to Point shows up in late 2026.
