Rivian has a new step for its tech-loving outdoor customers: Ditch the phone and use your Apple Watch to access the vehicle’s controls.
The company said Thursday that it plans to release a companion app next week that will pair with the Apple Watch as part of a broader update to Rivian’s mobile app. Rivian owners will be able to perform basic tasks such as locking and unlocking the doors, airing the windows and activating the vehicle alarm using their Apple Watch.
Rivian said it is also adding more precise and customizable features. For example, users can adjust the digital crown on the watch to set a target state of charge or adjust the temperature inside the vehicle. The app also allows users to choose four quick controls, depending on which one they use the most.
However, there are some limitations for Rivian’s first generation R1T trucks and R1S SUVs. Owners of these cars will only be able to lock or unlock their vehicle by opening the app and tapping the lock icon on the Watch. Second-generation R1 vehicles, meanwhile, will automatically unlock as the driver approaches the car, provided a digital key is set.
The Apple Watch integration follows a broader update to the vehicle software system released on Thursday.
Most of the updates focus on improving performance and accessibility, including a “knee mode” that lowers the vehicle an inch below the previous low setting. The update will also allow drivers to switch between different driving modes without causing the driver’s advanced driver assistance system to be disabled.
There’s also a new cold weather indicator that will add a blue tint to the battery graphic displayed on the vehicle’s digital display so drivers can see how much energy the battery is using for heating.
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Rivian makes and sells EVs, but software has become one of its core products and selling points, for consumers as well as for companies like Volkswagen that have tapped the automaker for its technology. In 2024, Rivian and VW formed a $5.8 billion technology joint venture under which Volkswagen will invest in Rivian, based on the achievement of certain milestones, by 2027. The software developed by the joint venture will be used in future VW Group vehicles.
