Rivian launched an Apple Watch application allowing owners to control specific electric vehicle functions without needing their phone. The app enables locking and unlocking doors, sounding the alarm, and venting windows. R1S and R1T Gen 2 owners can utilize passive unlocking, which activates when they approach the vehicle. Cabin temperature and target charge levels are adjustable using the Digital Crown.
Users can customize four quick-access controls for immediate use within the app interface. A battery status indicator can be added directly to the Apple Watch face for monitoring. Rivian stated that it intends to introduce additional features to the application in the future. This release follows the company’s initial rollout of digital car key support in December.
Rivian enabled digital car key support for Apple, Google Pixel, and Samsung devices in December. Apple has supported digital car keys on iPhone and Apple Watch since 2020, with widespread adoption among automakers. This functionality allows the vehicle to unlock automatically as the owner approaches, provided the digital key is configured.
