Rivian moves every R1 to RivianOS 2 with software update 2026.31

Rivian moves every R1 to RivianOS 2 with software update 2026.31

4 September 2026: Rivian is rebuilding the R1 truck and SUV cabin experience on RivianOS 2 through software update 2026.31, and says it reaches every R1 on the road, on both the Gen 1 and Gen 2 architectures. The R2 already runs the same system, so Rivian's whole range now shares a single software stack.

One stack for R1 and R2

Rivian describes the update as the biggest software change in the R1's history. The company says RivianOS 2 now powers the entire lineup, which means continuous feature updates and shared interface improvements arrive everywhere, with capabilities tailored to each vehicle's hardware. The 2026.31 update is an over-the-air release that was beginning its rollout to eligible R1 and R2 vehicles at the time of the post. Rivian points owners to the Rivian app or the centre display for release notes and availability for their own vehicle.

A redrawn screen and Unreal Engine 5 graphics

The interface has been reorganised. Quick controls and the media player can now sit on either side of the display, and a new vertical status bar keeps key vehicle functions close to hand. Settings 2 was rebuilt with context-aware controls and universal search.

Behind the screen, all R1 and R2 vehicles use Unreal Engine 5 to draw real-time 3D views of the vehicle and its surroundings on the central display. Rivian presents this as the graphics foundation for later features rather than a change limited to R1.

Police and speed camera alerts from Google Maps

Navigation gains real-time route alerts for police presence and speed cameras, drawn from Google Maps. Rivian says the data comes from local authorities, trusted third-party sources and live contributions from the Google Maps and Waze communities.

Two further features are tied to the Connect+ subscription: a dedicated weather app with current conditions, air quality and a ten-day forecast, and Mobile Live Trips, which lets drivers start, view and update an active trip in the car from the Rivian mobile app. Rivian notes that Connect+ requires a subscription, and that streaming services reached through it need their own accounts.

Gen 1 gets less of the AI than Gen 2

The post places RivianOS 2 on top of what Rivian calls Rivian Unified Intelligence, a common AI foundation connecting selected vehicle, mobile and service experiences. The split between hardware generations is stated plainly. R2 and Gen 2 R1 models have more computing power, which Rivian says allows low-latency hybrid edge processing and local AI. Both Gen 1 and Gen 2 R1 models receive expanded cloud-assisted voice capabilities and refreshed driver display hierarchies.

Owners of the earlier R1 therefore get the new look and the voice upgrade, while the on-vehicle AI processing the post describes stays with the newer hardware.

Privacy controls across generations

Rivian says RivianOS 2 lets owners toggle hotword wake-words, limit location sharing and adjust driver profile data at any time, across all vehicle generations. The post gives no detail on what data leaves the car for the cloud-assisted voice features.

The story is dated 4 September 2026 on Rivian's site,. Rivian does not state how long the rollout will take.

Company profile on TrustList: Rivian

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Sources

• Rivian: New Software, Bringing RivianOS 2 to the R1 Lineup, 4 September 2026