Rivian electric vehicles are receiving a software update that alerts you to what lies ahead.
Rivian is introducing Rivian OS 2.0 and real-time Waze alerts for all R1 and R2 models, while still lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as it moves towards a unified core operating system. This system will extend to Europe starting in 2027 through a partnership with Volkswagen.
The company is redesigning the screens in every vehicle they sell. Software version 2026.31 will deliver Rivian OS 2.0 and Waze real-time alerts to the R1S, R1T, and R2 models, including first-generation R1 vehicles that are equipped with older hardware.
One constant remains: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still absent, with the company suggesting that owners will eventually have no need for them. Chief software officer Wassym Bensaid has stated that the software for the R1 has been completely rebuilt to align with the R2, aiming for a singular core operating system throughout the model lineup.
However, two aspects remain unclear: Rivian has not provided a timeline for the rollout, nor clarified if users will be able to submit their own Waze reports or just view those from others.
What transforms an American infotainment issue into a European narrative is ownership; Volkswagen has become Rivian’s largest shareholder, owning 15.9% after investing $1 billion related to a software achievement.
The joint venture between the two companies is developing a shared vehicle framework that will be introduced to European markets with the ID. EVERY1, an entry-level electric vehicle set to launch in 2027, built on a platform the group hopes to scale to 30 million vehicles.
Europe has spent years debating this specific layer, as the control over what appears on a vehicle's main display has become a matter of competition rather than design.
In April of last year, Germany's Bundeskartellamt concluded its case against Google Automotive Services with enforceable commitments. Google is now required to offer Maps, Play, and Assistant as standalone services, eliminate contractual incentives tied to default settings and ad revenue, and permit interoperability with competing services.
Italy had already imposed a fine, penalizing Google with $123 million for preventing a third-party application from operating with Android Auto. The German commitments apply throughout the EU, allowing European automakers to mix and match in-car software components rather than adopting a single company’s suite.
Rivian's approach to this newfound freedom is to avoid using any of those systems. Volkswagen’s $1 billion investment aims to determine if a car manufacturer can develop its own operating system and reduce the demand for mobile phone integration.
Published August 24, 2026 - 8:00 pm UTC
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Rivian electric vehicles are receiving a software update that alerts you to what lies ahead.
Rivian is implementing its own operating system in all of its vehicles, excluding CarPlay, on software for which Volkswagen invested $1 billion to achieve a milestone.