Wassym Bensaid AMA on Reddit Complete List of Answers!

Wassym Bensaid, Chief Software Officer at Rivian, took to r/Rivian on Reddit for an “Ask Me Anything” with the community to answer questions about Gen 1, Gen 2, software, and much more. I monitored the AMA live and compiled notes (in no specific order) of what Wassym shared. Some of these details have been already known while some are brand new.

• RGB lighting controls will come to Gen 1 but they will differ from Gen 2
• Blind Spot Cameras are planned for Gen 1 and coming later this month
• Tri-Climate Zone is coming to Gen 1 and Gen 2 later this year
• Rivian will bring Launch mode to Gen 1 Quad-Motor vehicles but can’t beat Gen 2 Tri and Gen 2 Quad.
• Apple Music will work with your existing Apple Music account and when you subscribe to Connect+. Rivian worked with Apple to have a seamless sign-in experience
• SiriusXM will come later this year and Connect+ will not be needed. You will be required to have an active SiriusXM plan in the United States. Owners will get a free 3-month trial
• Expect to see much more of our furry friend, Gear Guard, in the future
• Rivian is working on messaging integration, a top feature on the roadmap. Rivian is evaluating a short-term solution while they work on a seamless long-term voice solution.
• Sneak peek at the June software update
  • Suspension software tuning for better ride comfort
  • Refreshed visual interface with 3D Cel Shading
  • Live camera views for blind spot monitoring when you use the turn signal
  • Redesigned HVAC app for better usability
  • Scheduling software updates so they can start at a pre-determined time
  • And more!
• Gen 2 will be deeply integrated with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) open standard with wider ecosystem integration and Ultra-Wideband technology. This allows for improved proximity lock and unlocking, key sharing, Apple Watch as a key, and digital wallet support
• While there’s a way to get the Apple Watch to work with Bluetooth for Gen 1, it would be a subpar experience and consume higher power on the device. Apple Watch as a key will not come to Gen 1
• Rivian’s philosophy is to continue to bring new autonomy features to Gen 1 when the hardware allows it and when there’s a commonality with Gen 2
• Driver+ will continue to improve with trailer assist and improvements to in-lane line detection for Highway Assist
• Regarding geofenced roads on Highway Assist – based on multiple factors including road attributes so it will continue to improve over time with fleet data but changes will be more visible in Gen 2
• There’s an advanced equalizer on the roadmap for Rivian Audio
• Dolby Atmos will be available to both Gen 1 (Meridian and Elevation Audio) and Gen 2 vehicles with Rivian Premium Audio this summer
• User Profiles – A revamped experience is coming later this year with more settings tied to a user profile like audio streaming, map settings, and air vent position
• An external beta program for software is being worked on and details will be shared when available
• Gen 2 vehicle owners will be able to share digital keys securely via the owner’s wallet
• Trailer Assist is coming to Gen 1 vehicles later this year
• Lane Change On Command (automatically changes lanes for you) will only be available on Gen 2
• All R1T and R1S on the road today are capable of V2V (vehicle to vehicle) and V2H (vehicle to home) charging with more details in the future
• Mirror tilting in reverse is coming later this year
• Climate Hold is on the roadmap
• Rivian plans to take advantage of the new features in iOS 18 to bring some exciting features to the mobile app later this year
• Dolby Atmos, Apple Music, Google Cast, and YouTube coming in a software update later this summer
• Coming this fall, you’ll be able to adjust the tire size in your vehicle without making a service center appointment
• Automatic cameras while parking feature will be coming later this year via OTA
• Gen 2 vehicles do not come with a key fob but you’ll be able to buy an improved key fob with Bluetooth and Ultra-Wideband via the Gear Shop
• Wassym agrees that the current Bluetooth audio experience needs improvements and is working on it
• “Teen Mode” which will allow you to set a top speed and reduce the acceleration is being worked on thanks to the community for placing the idea
• PIN to Drive is coming in the Fall
• Rivian does not have any current plans to retrofit cameras or sensors for Gen 1 vehicles
• The Greenlight notification feature will come to Gen 2 vehicles as it requires an enhanced sensor suite
• Rivian acknowledges the community is very important to them and they are thinking of ways to have features that celebrate the owners!
• Gen 2 Launch Mode offers the full torque of the vehicle. This adjusts settings like ride height and more torque to unlock full performance
• Valet Mode is being worked on and that will add additional layers of privacy for your data as well as enhance vehicle safety and modify vehicle performance
• Connect+ will make its debut in the United States and Canada initially. No plans for other countries at this time
• Camp Mode controls for the rear screen are coming in the future
• Resume on Cruise Control is being considered
• Phone tethering is coming this summer to Gen 1 and Gen 2

You can find the whole conservation over on the r/Rivian subreddit!