Rivian Recap: 02/13/2026
Hey there,
Here's your weekly Rivian Recap for February 13th, 2026.
We finally get the early-look R2 videos, my 2027 expectations for R1, details for software update 2026.03, next-gen Rivian OS, Q4 earnings, and more.
Let's dive in!
Software
There are two big software stories this week.
First, thanks to our friends at Rivian Roamer, we got an early look at the release notes for 2026.03, and it's one of the bigger updates to Gen1 in a while.
You can read the full breakdown here, but here are the highlights, sorted by what I think are most exciting:
Drive Modes get a big overhaul (Dual Motor owners 🥳!)
Gen2: There are two big updates for Gen2 based powertrains that have the potential to be a massive update.
The most important one here for Gen2 duals is that Sport mode is coming to every single dual-motor configuration, and it supports standard ride height.
This appears to be the answer to a fully engaged AWD mode for dual-motors and a workaround for the more efficient clutch disconnect. Notably, this is a different path than what was previewed to Out O fSpec last year.
Non-performance upgraded models seem to have less power in this mode, but for 95%+ of customers, that doesn't matter at all.
Gen1: Quad-Motor now gets launch mode, similar to Gen2 tri and quad 🚀.
Both Gen1 and Gen2 Dual-Motor w/Performance Upgrade also get launch mode. All vehicles getting launch mode get maximum power, 0-to-60 mph stats, as well as quarter mile race times.
Also true of all powertrains and generations, you can now adjust suspension height, feel, and on-road modes while adaptive cruise or lane centering based features are enabled. Hallelujah!
Dedicated Apple Watch App
The entire fleet now gets access to a dedicated Apple Watch app, but this is most useful for Gen1 owners who don't have UWB support for their vehicles.
Your watch app can be used to lock, unlock, and start a drive with your vehicle.
Cold Weather Improvements
More accurate range reflections in extreme cold, more UI feedback when performance is limited by cold, and improved logic for optimal battery performance resulting in a more uniform experience.
These core improvements, along with other bug fixes, look to be a solid improvement for both Gen1 and Gen2.
I'm particularly excited to try out the new dual-motor drive modes to keep AWD engaged, especially for our non-performance Gen2 dual-max variants.
I do NOT expect it to remember and "stick" to these settings due to EPA rules, but this is at least halfway to where I've wanted dual operation to get to.
Make sure you are signed up for Rivian Roamer to get notified as soon as your vehicle is flagged for the update, and get a free month of drive & charge tracking through Rivian Roamer+ when you setup your account here.
Next up, we have what is being dubbed "Rivian OS 2.0"
When watching the set of videos that dropped this week with R2 manufacturing validation builds (more on that in the hardware section), the UI immediately jumped out to me as a really nice rethink of the operating system.
Approximately 2 years ago when R2, R3, and R3X were unveiled, there were some clear advancements to the design that ultimately made their way into the existing Rivian fleet we get to enjoy today.
And thankfully, it seems like the HMI team (Human-Machine Interface) has not been sitting still.
While based on the InsideEVs article about their R2 first-drive impressions, RivianTrackr did a really nice job honing in on a number of the software details.
It's clear to me that Rivian wanted to take a fresh look at how the driver is interacting with the vehicle, which started with the incredible "Halo Haptic Rollers" integrate through hardware and software as a primary input.
But we see a ground up rethink of the rest of the UI as well.
For example, it seems everything is far more modular than before, allowing you to do things like move media controls to the driver side vs passenger.
Note the UI icon in the top right of the playback controls to move the pane to the right vs the left, and toggles for vehicle quick controls, etc.
(This screenshot was taken from Doug DeMuro's excellent R2 preview)
Additionally, we're seeing a bit more restrained, but clearly inspired elements from our last update with lager tap targets and a more consistent use of color for things like the music equalizer.
Overall, I'm very impressed with this direction. And based on Wassym's comment, we can expect at least elements of this to come to the existing Rivian fleet later this year.
Color me excited for this one! Check out RivianTrackr's article for more.
Note: Would you be interested in a deeper dive video about the changes we've seen so far in this big software rethink? Or would you prefer I wait until we have this on the existing fleet? Hit reply and let me know.
Hardware
It has been the biggest week for hardware since the R2 was originally announced, almost a full 2 years ago (hard to believe it's been that long).
We finally got a number of media drive impressions from the initial "Manufacturing Validation Builds" (MVBs) of the Rivian R2.
Frankly, I watched them all so you so you can focus on the best ones... and after doing so, two videos clearly stood out from the rest.
The Carwow video from Mat Watson had the comparison many of you are wondering about: How does this thing stack up against Model Y?
He's the only early media reviewer who also got the R2 plugged into a Rivian Adventure Network fast charger. And while the results were a bit underwhelming, it should settle out on-par with the current Model Y.
The other video that did a truly excellent job and gave us our clearest look yet at just how much legroom is in the 2nd row (more than the R1S), as well as the first real hands-on tour of Rivian OS 2, was Doug DeMuro.
In classic Doug style, we got the "quirks and features" which is exactly the right vibe to hit for the R2 at this early stage.
All-in, Doug walked away very impressed with the R2, and like many of us feels like this could be an absolutely smash hit of a product.
Even if the fast charging isn't what we had hoped, there is so much else to love about this car in total that it should do great.
In fact... earlier this morning, we got a segment from Doug's podcast where he seems to think the pricing is going to really impress and with more time to sit on it he thinks the R2 may be the best SUV to market (on balance).
Note: Why didn't a single reviewer turn on the sound system and give us any feedback? Given Rivians audio history this needs to be demonstrated, not just said, in order to be believed.
Rivian followed up this media drop from a handful of select creators with two important updates from their end about R2.
First, we got a recap page complete with dimensions, beauty shots, and some key feature takeaways casual observers will very much appreciate.
And second, we *finally* got an updated R2 page with more interior shots showing off the dark themed interior.
However, the shots that include the screens seem to be an already outdated version of the software as it it missing elements from Rivian OS 2, and has software buttons for things that don't exist anymore.
RIP to those rear quarter venting windows.
Thankfully, it looks like the phone charging pad nightmare may finally end with Rivian R2 and future R1(?) models.
Full launch specs, colors, pricing, and more drop on March 12th.
Lastly, I put together a recap video about what I expect for the 2027 R1 line based on advancements we're seeing in R2.
This was highly requested last week after asking if anyone was interested in this kind of thing, so I'm glad I was able to put this together.
In this video I breakdown:
- What I think is very likely to be in the 2027 model year R1
- What is NOT likely to be included
- If the trade-off for the newer model is worth forgoing current incentives
Community
This week, at the spur of the moment I decided to do a live multi-stream of the earnings call for Rivian's Q4 2025 webcast.
While the earnings call itself isn't all that interesting (other than hearing that Rivian continues to reduce their losses on the path to profitability), what was far more interesting to me was time with you... the community.
While I'm glad I was tuned in to get a better sense of how R2 will ramp, I most enjoyed spending time with you all. Answering questions and getting to chat about the report together, in real-time.
This was especially true given the several technical issues the Rivian webcast platform had with audio during the call.
I have to admit, this ended up being more enjoyable and certainly more fun than I expected it to be for what is otherwise a dry financial call.
And while I'm not ever giving financial or investing advice, would you enjoy participating in these quarterly calls in the future?
Let me know in a reply if that interests you, and I can schedule them out for future earnings calls as a chance for us to get together in a "live" setting.
Worth Checking Out (Sponsor) - Rivian Roamer
Friend of the channel & newsletter, Chad Moran, has continued to build and refine what has turned out to be the de facto Rivian tracking companion.
Not only can Rivian Roamer let you know when your vehicle has been flagged for an update (long before Rivian themselves will alert you), but the premium service can also track charge & drive sessions.
This is particularly nice when on a road trip.
One of the newer features though, makes it easy to flag drives as "work" or "personal" for those of us who need to deduct work mileage at the end of the year for tax purposes.
Absolutely brilliant.
My thanks to Rivian Roamer for helping make this newsletter possible.
Latest Deals
Here are the latest deals, including 0% financing on the following models:
Dual Large w/Performance <- Best lease value right now
Dual Max w/Performance
Tri Max
Quad Max
Plus, for this weekend only you get an added $1k discount on either a lease or purchase option (expires February 16th).
Notably, you can also snag 0% on Gen2 Quads.
But is the cheap financing really the best deal?
Those dual large/max with the Performance Upgrade get a $6,500 lease bonus cash offer. This is exactly why I built the lease vs buy comparison tool.
TLDR; 0% financing works out best for Tri and Quad variants that have zero in lease bonus cash, but the trade off for leases still wins on all other trims.
Avoid the Dual-Standard for now. It has a comparatively high interest rate and far worse lease terms. After a push at the end of 2025, this is a poor value now.
Here are my top suggested builds with the current incentives:
Dual Large w/Performance (LEASE):
2026 R1S Dual-Large w/Performance (Premium Audio)
2026 R1T Dual-Large w/Performance (Premium Audio, Utility V2 Tonneau)
Dual Max w/Performance (LEASE):
2026 R1S Dual-Max w/Performance (Premium Audio)
2026 R1T Dual-Max w/Performance (Premium Audio, Utility, V2 Tonneau)
Get 0% financing for 60 months on these builds:
Tri-Max (PURCHASE):
Quad-Max (PURCHASE):
*If you need to chat with a sales advisor and want a direct introduction, I'm happy to make that happen, just reply and I'll get you in touch.*
All referrals also get 3 months of free charging on the Rivian Adventure Network, which is handy when the cold weather impacts range.
I hope enjoyed this weeks edition of the Rivian Recap. Let me know what you'd like to see more of in future editions!
Even if you just want to say hi, hit reply – I'd love to get to know you 👋
Stay curious ✌️,
Travis Ketchum
P.S. Thinking about buying a new Rivian?
Make sure you use a referral code. A friend, a neighbor, or someone who has helped you along the way.
Here's mine: TRAVIS4699411