It wasn’t way back that the software program in your automotive was merely an afterthought; one thing that hardly ever affected a buying resolution a lot much less the automobile’s driving dynamics. These days are gone.
Software program has turn into such an integral a part of nearly each aspect of immediately’s autos that the time period “software-defined automobile” has emerged and is at the moment used all through the business.
Rivian is likely one of the firms that function on the slicing fringe of software program growth as the electrical automobile startup has developed its personal in-house software program stack, enabling it to push out over-the-air (OTA) updates extra incessantly than most automakers can.
As we speak, the Irvine-based automaker launched 2023.38.0 by an OTA replace simply weeks after pushing out 2023.34.0, and each updates included spectacular characteristic updates. I spoke to Wassym Bensaid, VP of Software program Growth at Rivian, to get the most recent on what is going on on.
Replace 2023.34.0 was launched in mid-September and made noticeable enhancements to the experience high quality and luxury throughout all drive modes and experience heights in each R1T and R1S autos. I do know this primary hand, as I personal an R1S and instantly felt the advance.
The experience high quality is likely one of the few complaints I’ve with my R1S, and the replace undoubtedly improved the on-road driving expertise in regular driving mode. Nevertheless, I have never had the chance to check the brand new suspension tuning in more difficult off-road conditions.
![Rivian software updates](https://cdn.motor1.com/images/static/16x9-tr.png)
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Software program model 2023.38.0 began going out to prospects immediately and consists of fairly just a few upgrades. The primary change Rivian homeowners will discover is a very redesigned drive mode display. The brand new format not solely seems to be cleaner than the earlier display, nevertheless it consists of rather more info.
Homeowners will now be capable to see the temperature of the automobile’s high-voltage battery in addition to particular person temperature readouts for every drive motor. There’s additionally a compass, a gauge displaying the automobile’s present elevation and the best and lowest factors it traveled with the flexibility to reset the gauge. There’s additionally the tire stress and two resettable journey gauges, and all that info is neatly organized on the suitable aspect of the display.
The left aspect of the display permits the driving force to set the drive mode, the experience peak and regenerative braking power, the soundness management, and the suspension stiffness. There’s additionally a brand new characteristic that enables the proprietor to create as much as three totally different trailer profiles, a characteristic that people who tow will enormously admire. R1T homeowners additionally get a brand new rear-facing digicam view for a greater look out of the rear when towing.
Rivian R1T trailer digicam view
Two main OTA updates in a couple of month is kind of an accomplishment and one thing it feels like Rivian hopes to do extra of within the coming years. I realized that in my unique interview with Bensaid, which you’ll be able to watch up above.
Bensaid defined how important it was for the startup to regulate its personal software program, and the way that permits the corporate to push out updates quicker than most automakers. He additionally promised (at my request) that an replace is coming within the first quarter of 2024 that can enhance the data the automobile exhibits when DC quick charging, together with a show of the charging curve, which I sit up for seeing (and analyzing) in my R1S.
So take a look at the video and go away your feedback and questions within the remark part under.
Rivian software program replace features a new trailer profile part and guarantees to enhance the general trailering expertise.