Rivian Recap: 09/12/2025
Hey there,
Here's your weekly Rivian Recap for September 12th, 2025.
We finally get to see some more about the first VW with Rivian hardware on-board, a fresh new R2 patent, navigation audio behavior and more about Also!.
Let's dive in!
R1
Things are a bit quiet on the R1 front as they work on integrating the R2 line in Normal, Illinois. I took the opportunity to splice together an odd navigation audio behavior that I've seen for over a year but has worsened as of late.
Given the change in either how often or how long Google Maps must like to try and talk to the driver, this problem has moved up the tree of squeaky wheels (at least for me personally).
Based on the replies both on X and Reddit, it seems clear I'm not alone.
Have you noticed this edge case behavior in your R1?
Next time you have navigation muted and you are routing somewhere, mess with the volume near sections you know the navigation would be chatty if it weren't on mute.
I can reproduce this 100% of the time on both of our vehicles.
R2 + Beyond
Friend of the channel, @Hilbe, has dug up another patent.
Chris must spend half of his life digging up Rivian searches from the US Patent and Trademark office 😉.
I think dog lovers in particular are going to love this rear drop glass, and I do appreciate the more sleek integration of the wiper vs the R1S.
VW has shown off their ID.Every1 prototype that will be the first to include Rivian zonal architecture and firmware as a result of the joint venture.
Kyle from OutOfSpec spent a few minutes near the prototype over in Munich, and while there's not a ton to glean from the video, it was still neat to see more of this car than just press shots.
The ID.Every1 is unlikely to ever make it to the U.S. which is a shame because it's expected to start around 20k Euro (~23.5k USD).
What's particular interesting is that it sounds like an Audi will be the first to include Rivian infotainment software.
So what does this mean? That the ID.Every1 will have Rivian tech under the skin, but still have the inferior VW infotainment?
Hopefully when this thing ships in 2027 they can find a way to get the full stack integrated because that really sounds like the better solution.
Rivian's micro mobility spin-off "Also!" is set to finally reveal their first product on October 22nd, 2025.
Even though I kind of hate the name because there is no way to say it without it fitting awkwardly into a normal sentence, I am excited to see what they have.
It seems as though we could even see a shrunken down of the iconic "love it or hate it" headlight design coming to some kind of bike.
I'm all here for it.
Autonomy
Last week I mentioned that Waymo announced they would be expanding to both Denver and Seattle.
However, Seattle would be "pending approval" with no clear timeline.
In the meantime though, it looks like a fleet is already moving in to the Seattle area and we've even caught a glimpse in person with them merging onto I-5 which is particularly noteworthy given their avoidance of highways so far.
As soon as they start doing rides I will be sure to try and snag some footage to see how they fair in the notoriously challenging weather conditions, not to mention Seattle ranks among the worst cities to drive in.
We have a lot going for us around here, but traffic and terrain are certainly working against us on the autonomy front which should prove to be a telling hurdle for autonomy.
Community
Two quick updates for the community.
First, thanks to awesome people just like you, the channel has now surpassed 500,000 views in it's first ~5 months of operation.
THANK YOU! 🙌
Second, this weekend is the event in Joshua Tree for Rivian's top referral partners. My wife and I are fortunate enough to go check out Iconic Joshua Tree National Park all because so many of you chose to use my referral link.
For both of these, I really can not thank you enough for your support.
I don't take it for granted for one second, and I plan to keep trying to add value for you and the community as best as I can. 🫡
Latest Deals
The final push to grab the latest deals is here, as all the current offers require you to lease by September 15th in order to qualify.
I suspect this will be the best deals we see on R1 until calendar year 2026, unless we see an incentivized interest rate for those who are keen to buy and finance the vehicle.
With that said, it's hard to imagine it could overcome the $7.5k federal incentive + Rivian bonuses on the current lease deals, even if you buy it out immediately at a higher interest rate.
Here are some of the unique/best incentives:
- 2025 Tri-Motors have "stealth" discounts. Things like paint color and wheel upgrades have been zeroed out. One of the better builds now if you were planning on a fancy color and off-road wheels!
- Score a free camp speaker when you do a demo drive or fill out a trade-in request form (but seemingly don't need to do a trade-in) and order the same day. Offer expires September 15th.
Here are the supported builds with offers + my recommended upgrades on audio, tonneau, etc.
2025 Tri-Motor R1S <- Stealth deals (free paint and wheel upgrades)
2025 Tri-Motor R1T <- Stealth deals (free paint and wheel upgrades)
2026 Dual-Max Performance
- 2026 Dual-Max Performance R1S
- 2026 Dual-Max Performance R1T
2025-2026 Dual-Standard (an excellent entry value)
I would highly encourage everyone to lease so you can claim the incentive, even if you plan to buy out immediately.
Here's my video about lease vs buy to help better understand the numbers.
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