Rivian has started deploying its latest software update to R1T and R1S owners, giving them several new features, including a dashcam feature that was first announced as coming soon one year ago.
The biggest feature in the 2023.14.0 software update for Rivian owners is the addition of Drive Cam, Rivian’s version of a dashcam feature. Previously owners had access to the Gear Guard feature, which was like Tesla’s Sentry Mode, but Drive Cam allows you to now record video clips from around the entire vehicle while driving.
According to the release notes of the update, Drive Cam requires at least a 128GB USB storage device that you need to provide yourself. Owners can then use Motion Cam to continually record and save 2-minute videos while driving. Or if you don’t want to purchase an external storage device, the owner can turn on ‘Incidents’, which automatically records and saves videos of driving incidents, like collisions or hard braking events to the car’s internal storage.
“For example, if you are cut off in traffic and have to slam on the brakes, this near-impact scenario would trigger the anti-lock braking system and, in turn, activate Incidents. The fifteen seconds of video that was recorded prior to the event would be saved, and Incidents would also save video of the following 1 minute 45 seconds,” Rivian explains.
After Tesla has been faced with some privacy related concerns with their Sentry Mode feature, Rivian reminds owners that if you’re driving in an area where privacy or confidentiality is an issue, both the Drive Cam and Incidents features can be turned off from the Gear Guard features screen.
Drive Cam wasn’t the only feature added, with Rivian including several other improvements and enhancements, including the ability to personalize your Rivian with its own name.
- Live Chat: Rivian Support Service Advisors are now available through Live Chat 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Rivian mobile app version 1.13 or later. While you’re chatting with a real human service advisor, you can use other apps on your mobile and your Rivian Support Service chat will remain active. Rivian owners can also chat with our Customer Service team live during their regular business hours.
- Charge Limit Slider: Set a custom charging value between 50 and 100% so you can tailor your charge to your regular commute. When using paid charging stations, you won’t need to pay for more charge than you need.
- Charge Scheduling: Modify your charging schedule, and the amperage to use during a scheduled charging session, directly from the mobile app.
- Driver+ Improvements: Driver+ cameras can continue operating in a much wider range of conditions. This means that more functionality is available even when there are smudges or splashes on the windshield due to rain, or glare on the camera. In these situations, drivers must continue to monitor the road ahead.
- Name your vehicle: From your center console, go to Settings, tap About, then press Edit. From your mobile app’s vehicle tab, pull up the dashboard and scroll to Vehicle Information, then press Edit. You can choose a name up to 32 characters long, and if you enter the name from your mobile app, you can use emojis.
- Service Mode: The Service Center may activate this mode to block actions from the mobile app that may interfere while service technicians are working on your vehicle.
The Rivian software update 2023.14.0 release notes for the R1T can be found here, and the R1S here.
