Rivian is introducing a new feature for its adventurous and tech-savvy customers: the ability to leave your phone behind and use an Apple Watch for vehicle controls. The company announced plans to launch a companion app for the Apple Watch as part of a broader Rivian mobile app update next week.
With this new app, Rivian owners can perform basic tasks directly from their wrist. These include locking and unlocking doors, venting windows, and triggering the vehicle alarm. Rivian is also adding more precise and customizable functions. For example, users can adjust the digital crown on the watch to set a target state of charge for the battery or fine-tune the interior climate. The app will also allow users to select four quick controls for their most-used commands.
There are some differences depending on the vehicle generation. Owners of first-generation R1T trucks and R1S SUVs will need to open the app and tap the lock icon on the Watch to lock or unlock their vehicle. Meanwhile, second-generation R1 vehicles will unlock automatically as the driver approaches, provided a digital key has been set up beforehand.
This Apple Watch integration is part of a broader vehicle software update rolled out recently. Most of these updates focus on improving performance and accessibility. One new feature is a “kneel mode” that lowers the vehicle an additional inch below its previous low setting. The update also allows drivers to switch between different drive modes without causing the advanced driver assistance system to disengage. A new cold weather indicator adds a blue tint to the battery graphic on the vehicle’s screen, showing drivers how much energy is being used to warm the battery pack.
Rivian manufactures and sells electric vehicles, but software has become a central product and a key selling point. This appeals not only to consumers but also to other companies, such as Volkswagen, which has partnered with Rivian for its technology. In 2024, Rivian and Volkswagen established a technology joint venture valued at up to $5.8 billion. Under this agreement, Volkswagen will invest in Rivian upon reaching certain milestones through 2027. The software developed by this joint venture will be used in future Volkswagen Group vehicles.