Rivian is making a new pitch to its outdoorsy, tech-loving customers: Ditch your phone and use your Apple Watch to access vehicle controls.
The company announced Thursday that it plans to release a companion app to pair with the Apple Watch next week as part of a broader update to its Rivian mobile app. Rivian owners will be able to use Apple Watch to perform basic tasks like locking and unlocking doors, ventilating windows, and activating vehicle alarms.
Rivian said it will also add 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 car. The app also allows users to choose between four quick controls depending on what they use the most.
However, Rivian’s first-generation R1T truck and R1S SUV have some limitations. Owners of these cars can only lock or unlock their vehicles by opening the app and tapping the lock icon on their watch. Second-generation R1 vehicles, on the other hand, automatically unlock when the driver approaches the car, provided the digital key is set.
The Apple Watch integration follows a broader update to vehicle software systems published Thursday.
Most of the updates focus on performance and accessibility improvements, including a “kneeling mode” that lowers the vehicle’s ride height by an additional inch than its previous low setting. This update allows drivers to switch between different drive modes without disabling advanced driver assistance systems.
There’s also a new cold weather indicator that adds a blue tint to the battery graphics displayed on the vehicle’s digital screen, allowing drivers to see how much energy the battery pack is using for warming.
tech crunch event
boston, massachusetts
|
June 23, 2026
Rivian makes and sells electric vehicles, but software is one of its core products, a selling point not only for consumers but also for companies like Volkswagen that leverage the automaker’s technology. Rivian and Volkswagen will form a $5.8 billion technology joint venture in 2024, with Volkswagen planning to invest in Rivian through 2027 based on the achievement of certain milestones. The software developed by the joint venture will be used in future Volkswagen Group vehicles.
