Rivian’s Latest Update: A Divide for Early Adopters
Rivian has just rolled out its highly anticipated software update, version 2025.34, bringing a mix of exciting new features and a dose of frustration for some owners. While all Rivian R1T and R1S owners will benefit from a new cost-saving charging function, a significant portion of the update, including advanced hands-free driving and improved audio features, is exclusive to Gen 2 models (from the 2025 model year onward). This leaves Gen 1 owners (produced through the 2024 model year) feeling left behind due to hardware incompatibility.
Universal Savings: Up to $900 Annually on Charging
The good news for all Rivian owners is the introduction of the Schedule Recommendation function. This smart feature automatically optimizes home charging sessions to off-peak hours when electricity rates are lowest. Rivian estimates that activating this function can cut annual charging costs by 20%, potentially saving owners up to $900 per year, depending on their electricity provider and location. This not only benefits individual owners but also helps stabilize the power grid and increases the use of clean energy.
Gen 2 Exclusives: Enhanced Driving and Audio Experiences
The majority of the new, more advanced features are reserved for Gen 2 Rivian vehicles:
- Co-Steer (Highway Assist): The hands-free driving system gets a major upgrade with Co-Steer, allowing drivers to make subtle lane position adjustments (e.g., moving away from a semi-truck) without disengaging the system.
- Expanded Hands-Free Driving: The availability of Enhanced Highway Assist is up by over 50%, offering longer stretches of hands-free driving.
- Improved Perception System: Rivian claims its in-house perception system is now better at assessing the vehicle’s environment, leading to improved lane centering and handling of tighter curves.
- Richer Audio Experience: Audiophiles will appreciate the ability to customize all six existing equalizer profiles and create two new ones. Gen 2 models also boast updated low-frequency response and soundstage for better bass control and spatial separation.
These advanced capabilities are limited to Gen 2 vehicles due to their updated hardware.
The “Early Adopter Tax” for Gen 1 Owners
The exclusion from these significant upgrades has led to discontent among Gen 1 Rivian owners. Many feel that being an early adopter has come with the “price” of missing out on cutting-edge features. While Gen 1 vehicles still receive essential bug fixes, improved navigation stability, better battery range estimates, and enhanced 12V battery health detection, the lack of hardware compatibility for new ADAS and audio features is a stark reminder of the rapid evolution in Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). This situation mirrors how older smartphones eventually lose access to the latest OS features, though it’s a newer concept for automotive ownership.
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