Rivian owners will soon be able to access vehicle controls using their Apple Watch

Rivian has a caller transportation for its outdoorsy, tech-loving customers: Ditch the telephone and usage your Apple Watch to entree conveyance controls.

The institution said connected Thursday it plans to motorboat a companion app that pairs with the Apple Watch arsenic portion of a broader update to the Rivian mobile app adjacent week. Rivian owners volition beryllium capable to execute basal tasks specified arsenic locking and unlocking doors, venting windows, and triggering the conveyance alarm utilizing their Apple Watch.

Rivian said it is adding much precise and customizable functions, too. For instance, users tin set the integer crown connected the ticker to acceptable a people authorities of complaint oregon set the somesthesia wrong the vehicle. The app besides allows users to prime 4 speedy controls, depending connected which they usage the most.

There are immoderate limitations, however, for Rivian’s first-generation R1T trucks and R1S SUVs. Owners of these cars volition lone beryllium capable to fastener oregon unlock their conveyance by opening the app and tapping the fastener icon connected the Watch. Second-generation R1 vehicles, meanwhile, volition unlock automatically arsenic the operator approaches the car, provided a integer cardinal has been acceptable up.

The Apple Watch integration follows a broader update to the vehicle bundle system that was rolled retired connected Thursday.

Most of the updates absorption connected improving show and accessibility, including a “kneel mode” that lowers the conveyance different inch beneath its erstwhile debased setting. The update volition besides let drivers to toggle betwixt antithetic thrust modes without causing the precocious operator assistance strategy to disengage.

There’s besides a caller acold upwind indicator that volition adhd a bluish tint to the artillery graphic displayed connected the vehicle’s integer surface truthful drivers tin spot however overmuch vigor the artillery battalion is utilized for warming.

Rivian makes and sells EVs, but bundle has go 1 of its cardinal products, and a selling point, for consumers arsenic good arsenic companies similar Volkswagen that person tapped the carmaker for its technology. In 2024, Rivian and VW acceptable up a $5.8 cardinal exertion associated venture nether which Volkswagen volition put successful Rivian, based connected reaching definite milestones, done 2027. Software developed by the associated task volition beryllium utilized successful aboriginal VW Group vehicles.