iPhone Duo Reminds Me a Lot of Owning a Rivian
A few days with iPhone Duo showed me great hardware held back by software that's still struggling, which sounds a lot like Rivian. R2's software is much better than early… · Editorial
iPhone Duo Reminds Me a Lot of Owning a Rivian
A few days with iPhone Duo showed me great hardware held back by software that’s still struggling, which sounds a lot like Rivian. R2’s software is much better than early R1, but mass market buyers won’t be as forgiving.

Volkswagen May Swap Rivian Software for Its China Stack in Europe [U]
Volkswagen could bring its Xpeng-developed China software to most next-gen VW, Skoda and Cupra models in Europe, according to Reuters. The move threatens to sideline Rivian and its $5.8 billion software partnership with VW.

Every EV Has a City and Highway Range, and Most Buyers Only See One
The R2, Model Y Performance, BMW iX3, and Volvo EX60 all carry separate EPA city and highway range ratings, but the number on every configurator is a blend of the two. Split them apart and the highway figures sit a lot closer to how people drive on the interstate.

2026.36
Made several stability, responsiveness, and performance improvements to the infotainment system.

Rivian Explains Why Some Sunglasses Stopped Working With Hands-Free in 2026.36
Rivian’s Autonomy team says the 2026.36 update is why some sunglasses no longer work with Universal Hands-Free. The new model checks whether it can see your eyes, and Rivian estimates fewer than 1% of sunglasses wearers are affected.

Rivian Acquires Third Dimension to Build AI Driving Simulations
Rivian has acquired Third Dimension, a U.K. startup that uses AI to turn images and video into lifelike 3D worlds. The 15-person team is joining Rivian’s autonomy group to build simulations from fleet data for driver assistance and the Uber robotaxi program.

Rivian Is Now the Second Best-Selling EV Brand in the US
Rivian outsold every US EV brand except Tesla in Q3 2026, jumping from sixth to second with an estimated 19,239 sales. It also holds second place year to date, just ahead of Hyundai.

Can Rivian Fix R2 Efficiency With Software? R1 Says It’s Happened Before
Rivian has used over-the-air updates to add range to the R1 before, including 14 EPA miles on the R1T without touching the hardware. With my R2 struggling on the highway, that history gives owners some reason for optimism.

Rivian Details the Safety Metrics Behind Autonomy Early Access Selection
Rivian’s Autonomy Early Access FAQ now spells out that forward collision warnings and collision events factor into who gets picked for Point to Point. Safety is rechecked every 30 days and testers are under an NDA.

Rivian Grew 46% in Q3 While the US EV Market Shrank by Almost 40%
Rivian sold an estimated 19,239 vehicles in Q3 2026, up 45.7% while the US EV market fell 39.5%. R2 posted 3,456 deliveries in its first quarter and commercial vans more than tripled.









