Rivian Recap: 02/27/2026
Hey there,
Here's your weekly Rivian Recap for February 27th, 2026.
Rivian launches RAD (the brand), rips it on ice in Big Sky, new collabs, ambitious plans for service expansion, and more.
Let's dive in!
**Quick note: I just launched a web version of the newsletter so you can catch up on any previous edition, search them, or share with a friend. Enjoy!**
Software
Last week was one of the most jam packed weeks for Rivian software in recent memory, so it's no surprise this week is a bit lighter.
However, one thing that got missed in the 2026.03 shuffle was that the "official" kick off for Autonomy+ trials, which end for existing owners on April 4th, or 60 days from delivery if you're more recent.
The big question I keep seeing pop up in Facebook groups and Reddit threads keeps boiling down to "Is Autonomy+ worth it?".
Seeing as right now it's mostly just hands-free lane centering anywhere the vehicle can see lane lines, that's a bit steep for the asking price.
Even the feature of lane change on command is fairly weak because it will only actually execute those moves in the old pre-approved map.
Currently either $49.99/month or $2,500 onetime (tied to the VIN), that isn't a lot of differentiation between what's free and what's paid.
Rivian claims that some form of point-to-point will be coming later this year, and their website currently aims for on-ramp to off-ramp and parking for 2026.
It sure seems like the on-ramp to off-ramp will come soon after we get the option to have auto-lane changes, but I do hope auto-lane changes are a setting because it's quite peaceful when you have 100% control over this.
(I stand by that I'd love to see a full blown behavior control like this prototype I built where specific behaviors can have sub-personalities.)
Given what we've seen from the point-to-point demo, Rivian is clearly working on stop sign and stop light functionality, which for safety reasons I hope comes sooner rather than later.
I'd actually take the stop sign/light control over auto-lane changes because I think if people are monitoring it's more hassle than it's worth using the system off-highway with so much nanny focus.
Personally? I very much enjoy the hands free for highway stretches, and having the coverage through tunnels and areas that were unmapped before is great.
It's enough to make me want to always have access to these features, but I realize everyone will have a different value trade-off.
Rivian would really do well to push the hands-on feature to work in the same operating domain as hands-off does currently, which would make it one of the better solutions on the market. Especially in light of Tesla killing Autopilot.
So it worth it? Only you can make that call.
But the last thing to consider is monthly vs onetime. I think you probably know if something like this is appealing, and if it is, the onetime feels like the move here.
Priced around the same as Rivians expensive paint, it actually pencils out even for a lease to pay the onetime price.
While yes, $2,500 = $49.99 x 4 years, leases only part part of the depreciation.
Running the add-on in the lease calculator inflates the vehicle price by around $38/month, and if you decide to buy out the vehicle at the end you've made headway towards the Autonomy+ cost.
Just something to think about.
Hardware
Rivian finally launched the "Rivian Adventure Department" as a full blown performance brand. Think Mercedes AMG, or BMW ///M.
This is a proper evolution of their initial RAD builds that have competed in the Pikes Peak race, and the RAD Tuner found in the Gen2 Quad.
The first vehicles they showed as an example of the RAD spirit look stunning.
From Gen2 Quad powered R1S and R1T, to a RAD inspired R2.
They are just beautiful. I'd love to rip in that R2.
Here they are putting on a show at FAT Ice Weekend I told you about last weekend, which looks like a wicked good time.
More photos from Kyle at OutOfSpec:
Can we please get a proper blue exterior + Slate Sky interior? 😍
We got a behind the scenes peek at R2 production, and how Rivian thinks the far more simplified design of R2 will lead to efficient production and a more reliable product.
They reiterated that the Normal, Illinois factory should be capable of 155,000 units of R2 per year at full production, with another 200,000 per year coming online in the first wave of Georgia in early 2028.
An initial pain point for Rivian (as it is with most new automakers) was the availability of service and support, post sale.
This is something Rivian has put a lot more effort into over the past few years, but in particular the past 12 months or so.
Service wait times are down, parts availability has generally improved, and vehicles are delivered with fewer issues day one.
- 50+ new service centers opening through next year
- 50% increase in mobile service vans
- 1,000+ service techs added in the last year
- 35% reduction in scheduling times
They are going to need every single ounce of this progress as R2 hits, and I suspect it will still fall short of normal demand for things like windshields, accidents, etc.
To help with this, Rivian has partnered with ALLDATA to expand repair access nationwide with independent repair shops.
Probably the biggest knock about direct to consumer brands in general is the either the lack of available service, or the stranglehold on parts.
Hopefully this opening up is the start of a positive trend.
Community
We're seeing a more creative push Rivian to highlight their engineering prowess, both in the physical products as well as their use of AI.
This week, Rivian announced a partnership with Mark Rober and his company CrunchLabs to highlight the technical work they're doing.
Marks content should bring a much wider audience to Rivian in short order, so this seems like a high leverage move that should draw in more families to learn about the hard work going into these efforts.
(Side note, did anyone check the interior and exterior colors of the R2? 👀)
Worth Checking Out - VION
I've had our VION sunshades in both our R1S and R1T for months now. They're custom-fit for Rivian's expansive glass roof, and honestly, they can make a big difference on hot days or when the vehicle is parked.
VION sponsored my 1-year review video, and they're offering Rivian Recap readers 10% off anything site wide with code "TRAVIS".
Check out their sunshades, carbon activated air filters, and more:
VION Sunshade // VION Air Filters
My thanks to VION for helping make this newsletter possible.
Latest Deals
Last chance for the February 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 a limited time you get an added $1k discount on either a lease or purchase option (expires March 3rd).
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.
**Dual-Standard Lease for $799 is back... kinda?**
While there have been some battery calibration issues on the dual-standard fleet, Rivian is back to reasonable deals on the dual-standard with $799... sorta.
While the lease prices have dropped notably, the mid-range lease bonus cash would still require more downpayment than recommended to hit that number.
The real number is closer to about $950 per month when you $0 the down payment, but the winner is still (LEASE):
2026 R1S Dual-Standard (Premium Audio)
2026 R1T Dual-Standard (Premium Audio, Utility, V2 Tonneau)
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