Launch Mode coming to Gen1 + Apple Watch support w/ active entry (both coming early 2026) -- confirmed by Wassym

[SadHill]

Just saw this online. Woot woot!!!

"Launch mode is coming to Gen 1 Quad and Dual Performance early next year. Messaging support will come through the Al Assistant deep end-to-end integration. Thanks for highlighting the HVAC setting, that is a bug and it must be fixed.

And as a bonus , we are also adding Apple Watch support for Gen 1 with Active entry only (no passive unlock like UWB-enabled Gen2), and it will be available early next year."

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[Noplacelikeloam]

BOOM!

 

[Nixapatfan]

s00n!

I could have sworn Wassym posted something exactly like this last year.

 

[Mellowyellow]

holy guacamole

 

[Honey]

What about the sound system?

 

[gultin]

 

[Jeff B.]

Gen 1 owners rejoice.

 

[KootenayEV]

Anyone know what he means by the Apple Watch support? I get that it won't be UWB, but will it utilize a different technique than the current PAAK system (ie Bluetooth antennas and complicated hand shakes) and therefore possibly be more reliable?

(BTW: I have figured out the quirks on my particular phone with my Gen 1 Rivian, so aside from the annoyance of having to take my phone out of my pocket and look at it to sometimes get the handles to pop open, PAAK works fine for me. Better than it did on my Model 3 for the first bunch of years owning it... looking at my phone wouldn't fix that one, I had to use the app to unlock the doors at least once or twice a week!)

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Anyone know what he means by the Apple Watch support? I get that it won't be UWB, but will it utilize a different technique than the current PAAK system (ie Bluetooth antennas and complicated hand shakes) and therefore possibly be more reliable?

(BTW: I have figured out the quirks on my particular phone with my Gen 1 Rivian, so aside from the annoyance of having to take my phone out of my pocket and look at it to sometimes get the handles to pop open, PAAK works fine for me. Better than it did on my Model 3 for the first bunch of years owning it... looking at my phone wouldn't fix that one, I had to use the app to unlock the doors at least once or twice a week!)

I take it to mean you have to actively tap a widget button (or the action button if you have it assigned appropriately) to manually unlock; no passive/proximity unlock... essentially making your Watch a fob with no proximity functions.

 

[jerseyff]

In theory, the watch should be able to function as an NFC device (like the card or wrist band) to unlock. Time will tell, but this is also below 0 on my priority list, I dont partake in the Apple ecosystem...I like my freedom!

 

[portdirect]

s00n!

I could have sworn Wassym posted something exactly like this last year.

It’s a lot more believable this time around - the only reason to not bring these to gen1 was always sunk development cost on a legacy platform. There‘s been enough feedback now that Rivian have woken up to the impact of leaving early adopters behind and are not only making good on prior commitment but also expanding to support things like WaaK which have always been technically possible. To the q of how WaaK will be implemented - it’s probably a coin toss at this point between doing CarKey in its original NFC only implementation, or doing BLE via a watch app (which actually should be pretty reliable if they remove the RSSI ranging shenanigans). My slight inclination would be towards CarKey, unless they have other plans beyond just Gen1 key functionality for a watch app.

I’m really optimistic that this will all happen now, and if it doesn’t - well we know the adage ‘fool me once….’

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

In theory, the watch should be able to function as an NFC device (like the card or wrist band) to unlock. Time will tell, but this is also below 0 on my priority list, I dont partake in the Apple ecosystem...I like my freedom!

Yes. But, responsiveness to keycard is a bit of a crap shoot—depends on how awake the vehicle is. Response to manual Bluetooth unlock command (from keyfob, iPhone or Watch) is far more consistent.

 

[jerseyff]

Yes. But, responsiveness to keycard is a bit of a crap shoot—depends on how awake the vehicle is. A manual Bluetooth unlock (from keyfob, iPhone or Watch) is far more consistent.

I agree 100% with the NFC experience.

It does give you a simple, dumb method to unlock (as opposed to a smart way, like opening an app or widget and hitting unlock). Plain and simple...as long as the reader is awake

 

[narmstrong79]

I know that guy !

 

[narmstrong79]

Just saw this online. Woot woot!!!

"Launch mode is coming to Gen 1 Quad and Dual Performance early next year. Messaging support will come through the Al Assistant deep end-to-end integration. Thanks for highlighting the HVAC setting, that is a bug and it must be fixed.

And as a bonus , we are also adding Apple Watch support for Gen 1 with Active entry only (no passive unlock like UWB-enabled Gen2), and it will be available early next year."

It should be noted that he completely ignored that I was asking for Gen 1 to get basic lane centering. This reply, while nice, confirms Driver+ will never be good.

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