It wasn’t way back that the software program in your automobile was merely an afterthought; one thing that hardly ever affected a buying resolution a lot much less the automobile’s driving dynamics. These days are gone. 

Software program has turn into such an integral a part of nearly each aspect of immediately’s automobiles that the time period “software-defined automobile” has emerged and is presently used all through the business. 

Rivian is among the corporations that function on the slicing fringe of software program growth as the electrical automobile startup has developed its personal in-house software program stack, enabling it to push out over-the-air (OTA) updates extra ceaselessly than most automakers can.

At the moment, the Irvine-based automaker launched 2023.38.0 by an OTA replace simply weeks after pushing out 2023.34.0, and each updates included spectacular characteristic updates. I spoke to Wassym Bensaid, VP of Software program Improvement at Rivian, to get the most recent on what is going on on. 

Replace 2023.34.0 was launched in mid-September and made noticeable enhancements to the experience high quality and luxury throughout all drive modes and experience heights in each R1T and R1S automobiles. I do know this primary hand, as I personal an R1S and instantly felt the development.

The experience high quality is among the few complaints I’ve with my R1S, and the replace undoubtedly improved the on-road driving expertise in regular driving mode. Nevertheless, I have never had the chance to check the brand new suspension tuning in tougher off-road conditions.

Software program model 2023.38.0 began going out to clients immediately and consists of fairly just a few upgrades. The primary change Rivian house owners will discover is a totally redesigned drive mode display screen. The brand new format not solely seems to be cleaner than the earlier display screen, but it surely consists of way more data.

House owners will now have the ability to see the temperature of the automobile’s high-voltage battery in addition to particular person temperature readouts for every drive motor. There’s additionally a compass, a gauge exhibiting the automobile’s present elevation and the very best and lowest factors it traveled with the power to reset the gauge. There’s additionally the tire stress and two resettable journey gauges, and all that data is neatly organized on the best facet of the display screen. 

The left facet of the display screen permits the driving force to set the drive mode, the experience top and regenerative braking energy, the steadiness management, and the suspension stiffness. There’s additionally a brand new characteristic that enables the proprietor to create as much as three totally different trailer profiles, a characteristic that those who tow will tremendously respect. R1T house owners additionally get a brand new rear-facing digicam view for a greater look out of the rear when towing. 

Rivian R1T trailer digicam view

Two main OTA updates in a couple of month is sort of an accomplishment and one thing it feels like Rivian hopes to do extra of within the coming years. I discovered that in my unique interview with Bensaid, which you’ll watch up above.

Bensaid defined how vital it was for the startup to manage its personal software program, and the way that permits the corporate to push out updates quicker than most automakers. He additionally promised (at my request) that an replace is coming within the first quarter of 2024 that may enhance the knowledge the automobile reveals when DC quick charging, together with a show of the charging curve, which I look ahead to seeing (and analyzing) in my R1S.

So take a look at the video and depart your feedback and questions within the remark part under. 

Rivian software program replace features a new trailer profile part and guarantees to enhance the general trailering expertise.