Rivian Recap: 05/15/2026
Hey there,
Here's your weekly Rivian Recap for May 15th, 2026.
R2 configurator drops with production in full swing, 2026.15 lands with Rivian Assistant + new driver assistance models.
Forest Green R2 makes an appearance at the Block Party.
Let's dive in!
Software
We finally have the 2026.15 rollout in full swing, and this is a larger than normal update for the Rivian fleet after a fairly quiet .07 update.
The star of the show has rightfully been Rivian Assistant, which finally brings text message support and comprehensive vehicle control to voice.
In my initial hands on, here's what I've noticed:
- Voice triggering is fairly quick (more consistent with "OK, Rivian" for me vs "HEY, Rivian.")
- The precise location awareness is great. Knowing what's near you, or near where you're headed is super helpful.
- Most vehicle commands are available, but some require confirmation (such as car wash mode, or some exterior controls).
- I had hoped for more granular control of audio settings that normally require you to be in park. However, it doesn't seem those are supported at launch.
- You can chain multiple commands. For example, when we have the dog in the car the first thing I say is "OK, Rivian. Turn off auto suspension and turn on the 3rd row air vents". It does it in one pass.
- There are group text limitations based around Bluetooth protocols inherent to the underlying Android Automotive OS.
- The assistant doesn't respond as I would've expected to voice dictation the way (such as saying "period" to add a "."). You're better off trusting it to add punctuation naturally.
- The speed is fine, but the number one thing I noticed is that R1 vehicles bounce to the cloud for most requests. R2 will have in-house models to handle far more commands in-vehicle.
Here are some great videos from the community for more exploration of Rivian Assistant that are helpful:
Rivian Assistant walkthrough from Jose at RivianTrackr
Deep dive on Rivian Assistant with Mike from Thunder Volt Auto
Note: Rivian Assistant currently requires Connect+ ($149/year) and when enabled replaces Amazon Alexa.
In Jose's video, he mentioned Rivian is working on a "Rivian Assistant Lite" for basic phone tasks outside of the paywall. This is a hard requirement, imho.
Another big piece for the 2026.15 update had to do with autonomy.
While the AI driving models have seemed to get slightly better with each release, this time we actually had a specific call out in the release notes.
"Improved the smoothness and comfort of Autonomy+ features, Lane Change on Command and Universal Hands-Free."
One of the best things about how Rivian currently works is that even the free tier of assistance uses the same AI models, getting many of the same benefits.
We currently only pay for Autonomy+ as a subscription on our Gen2 R1S which we've taken on some road trips, but not our Gen2 R1T.
(If we were keeping both longer, the onetime license would be a lock).
Here's what I noticed even in the free version on my T:
The full breakdown is in that thread above, but my biggest question I had was around left off ramp and right widening on-ramps that join.
Ever since Rivian dropped Mobileye (which did an admirable job here), the absolute centering has been quite poor with the in-house solution.
Thankfully, it looks like this has mostly been rectified in 2026.15!
No more gratuitous widening when an on-ramp joins you, and no more full send to the left handed off ramps.
We are still a ways off from something that competes with Tesla's FSD, but what we are seeing in practice is pragmatic improvement over time.
There's a lot to enjoy in this update!
Hardware
The surprise news this morning was the launch of the R2 configurator.
We finally got the full breakdown of what paint, wheels, interiors, accessories, and more will cost for R2 configurations.
And there's a sneaky way you can save up to $985 extra (state dependent).
Overall, Rivian has put together a nice package and even introduced a few new R2 specific accessories that should prove popular.
I'm a bit disappointed (as a buyer) at some of the margin they are trying to bake in, but with the overwhelming demand it shouldn't be too surprising.
What does your configuration total up to once you tick the options you want?
While Borealis and Forest Green are going to be making a fashionably late appearance to the R2 lineup, we had seen Borealis at SXSW.
Now, we finally get a good look at Forest Green on R2 and it looks like a real winner in this form factor.
Seen on Reddit, you can also see a Launch Green R2 out front next to a Forest Green R1S for a nice side by side comparison.
Which green do you prefer if you're a green enthusiast?
Rivian showed off that R2 production is "humming".
This includes what seems to be our first peak at Esker Silver.
When you combine this with the configurator that went live this morning, it seems we are rapidly approaching non-employee deliveries.
Exciting times!
Community
Last fall, Rivian held their first "Camp Rivian" for folks who hit at least 25 referrals (thanks to everyone who has used my code!).
But they finally distributed the highlight video:
I hope they find more ways to do events like this where more people can participate because the community is filled with amazing people.
(For non Twitter folks, here's Threads or Bluesky.)
Seeing more of the shirts, stickers, and sweatshirts out in the world has been a really fun treat. Shout out to the supporters 🙏
Last week I dropped the EV Compare Tool, and I just wanted to give you a heads up that your feedback has been invaluable.
In the past week alone, I've shipped close to 20 micro improvements to refine and polish the user experience even more.
Keep the feedback coming so this can be as useful as possible!
Worth Checking Out - VION
We had our first day of nearly 80 degrees last week here in the PNW.
Yes, even in May, it can occasionally get warm.
To help combat interior cabin temperatures, VION sunshades have been a terrific (affordable) addition to keep in the frunk.
VION just launched an update to their popular R1S kit that can perfectly fit the 3rd row as well now, and a white version is coming shortly for light interiors.
As a subscriber to the Rivian Recap, you can get 10% off anything site wide with code "TRAVIS", on what is already a stellar product for the price.
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
The May offers have slightly increased finance rates (1.99%), and a focus on Rivian trying to clear out the last of the R1S dual-standard through leases.
I still don't recommend the dual-standard at this point unless you have a specific use case you know it will be perfect for, and even then I'd encourage you to look hard at the lease option.
Here's what's sticking out for deals this week:
Get 1.99% for 60 months on these builds:
Dual Large w/Performance [Lease vs Buy Example]:
2026 R1S Dual-Large w/Performance (Premium Audio)
2026 R1T Dual-Large w/Performance (Premium Audio, Utility V2 Tonneau)
[Only the Dual Max/Performance also qualifies for $3k lease bonus]
Dual Max w/Performance [Lease vs Buy Example]:
2026 R1S Dual-Max w/Performance (Premium Audio)
2026 R1T Dual-Max w/Performance (Premium Audio, Utility, V2 Tonneau)
Tri-Max [Lease vs Buy Example]:
*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.
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
P.P.S. Here are some tools and resources you may find useful: