Video – Rivian Brings OS 2.0 to the R1 With the 2026.31 Update
Rivian is rolling out 2026.31 to the R1T and R1S, and it finally brings OS 2.0 and the full interface redesign to the R1. Here is what changed, plus my full walkthrough.
Rivian Tire Guide Adds a Help Me Choose Tire Advisor
The Rivian Tire Guide has a new "Help me choose" button. Three questions, and it returns up to three tires that actually fit your R1 or R2, each with a reason and a trade-off. Every pick comes out of the guide's own catalog, so nothing gets invented.
What Rivian Connect+ Actually Gets You in 2026
The new Weather app in 2026.31 requires Connect+, and mobile live trips is next. Here is what the subscription actually unlocks, what you still get for free, and whether $14.99 a month holds up.
2027 Rivian R1S With Captain’s Chairs Arrives at Service Centers
The first 2027 R1S builds with second row captain's chairs have started arriving at service centers and spaces as customer deliveries and demo units. Here is a closer look at the pass through, the fold-flush armrest, and the pop-out cup holder now that the configuration can be seen in person.
The Sunday Drive, Rivian Week in Review, August 24 to August 30, 2026
RivianOS 2 lands in the 2026.31 beta with a rebuilt interface, Waze alerts, and Gen 1 R1 included. Claire McDonough is stepping down as CFO, R2 VIN assignments hit the 9400s with a ten day order to VIN turnaround, and the AC compressor in my own R2 failed inside the first month.
R2 VIN Assignments Hit the 9400s as Delivery Gap Closes
R2 VIN assignments have climbed into the 9400s, with one day one reservation holder going from confirmed order to assigned VIN in just ten days. The pace has held near 115 a day since June, and the gap between assignment and handover finally looks like it is closing.
Video – My R2 AC Broke After One Month, How Rivian Handled It
The AC compressor in my R2 failed within the first month, in the middle of a Florida heat wave, and how Rivian handled it tells you a lot. Here is the full story, the service invoice, and what the containment hold on that part could mean for your own R2.
Rivian CFO Claire McDonough Is Stepping Down, Derek Mulvey Takes Over as Interim
Claire McDonough is leaving Rivian after nearly six years, with her final day set for October 30, 2026. Derek Mulvey, currently VP of Finance, is expected to step in as interim CFO while Rivian searches internally and externally for a permanent replacement. Here is what the timing means heading into the R2 ramp.
Rivian’s Mesh Sunshade vs VION: Which One to Buy
Rivian now sells its own mesh roof sunshades for the R1, at $150 for the R1S against $89 for the VION set. I ran both on my R1S. Same coverage, but the mesh lets noticeably more heat through, and the VION costs you the glass roof view to fix that.
ZEVcentric Launches Forged 18-Inch Wheels for the Rivian R2
ZEVcentric has released the Aspira Forge AF-10, one of the first 18-inch aftermarket wheels built specifically for the Rivian R2. It is fully forged, weighs 23 lb per wheel, fits tires from 255 to 275, and RivianTrackr readers get $100 off a set.