Rivian is piloting a new digital key program at select U.S. service centers that lets owners use their phone as a key on loaner vehicles through the Rivian mobile app, replacing the key card-only experience.
I join Wassym in the brand new Rivian R2 to discuss and showcase the upcoming software including refreshed UI that will be launching with R2 plus we discuss the R2 audio system (spoiler alert: it’s so much better than Gen 2 R1) and a bunch of other goodies!
Rivian’s 2026.03 software update is here and it’s a big one. In this video I break down the Dual-Motor updates, improvements to Kneel Mode, the move to Unreal Engine 5.5, new Apple Watch support, and smarter cold weather range transparency. From performance tweaks to UI upgrades, this is one of those releases that quietly makes your R1 feel more refined…
InsideEVs’ first hands on with R2 reveals a major UI refresh for Rivian, featuring floating modal windows, a new Liquid Glass style dock, movable media panels, a redesigned Music app, and even steering wheel climate controls. It’s a cleaner, bolder interface that hints at what’s coming next for both R2 and R1.
Rivian’s 2026.03 update upgrades the R1 platform to Unreal Engine 5.5, and no, it’s not about gaming. It’s about smoother visuals, faster UI performance, and a more immersive digital cockpit that can scale across Gen 1, Gen 2, and future R2 vehicles. Here’s why this matters more than most people think.