Rivian Releases R1T Replace to Stop Unintended Shifts

Our long-term Rivian R1T gave us a scare when it seemingly died on the freeway with a pair of Edmunds editors on board. After getting in contact with Rivian, the trigger turned out to be an inadvertent shift into impartial, which is activated utilizing the identical right-side stalk that controls the R1T’s adaptive cruise management.

The adaptive cruise had been activated lower than a minute earlier than the unintended shift into impartial however was deactivated by miserable the brake. The shift to impartial apparently occurred when the motive force bumped the stalk up for simply 0.2 second. That is actually faster than the blink of a watch. Take a look at our Lengthy-Time period Rivian R1T Stopped Engaged on the Freeway article for our in-depth reporting on the matter.

Rivian subsequently took a take a look at its software program and has since issued an replace. We needed to check the replace and see if the considerations that arose from our scare on the 405 freeway have been addressed.

Rivian makes it more durable to shift to impartial on the freeway

This is the related textual content from software program replace 2022.39.03:

• An elevated delay earlier than the automobile shifts to Reverse or Impartial after Freeway Help or Adaptive Cruise Management ends. This prevents unintended shifts.
• A brand new chime signifies rapid cancellation of Freeway Help.
• A chime that signifies Freeway Help isn’t out there is now louder so it’s simpler to listen to.

So, how does it work in the actual world? With the replace in place, you instantly discover the chime when partaking and disengaging varied Freeway Help options, even at freeway speeds. Beforehand, one of the best operational indicator for Freeway Help or adaptive cruise was a blue circle on the digital sprint.

The important thing query for us was whether or not the replace would make it more durable to shift into impartial after canceling adaptive cruise management. Rivian does not specify how lengthy it forces the R1T to attend earlier than permitting you to interact a gear apart from drive, so we determined to hop into the motive force’s seat and discover out.

The decision? About 3 seconds. Shifting into impartial have to be finished extra intentionally consequently, although it may be finished at speeds in extra of 25 mph. Nonetheless, that is rather a lot longer than 0.2 second.