Possible updates / upgrades coming s00n! R2 software? -- Q&A with head of software Wassym Bensaid

[djsider2]

They could stop upgrading features right not and I would be satisfied. Why can’t some of you just learn to be grateful . This community can be so

Because they have always said they are upgrading and will be on "par" with the solutions they don't want to offer. Is it wrong to hold them to that?

If they came out and said, this is the car you're getting and updates aren't coming, then all of us would have no ground to stand on since we knew their stance coming into this.

Sponsored

 

[Dark-Fx]

They could stop upgrading features right not and I would be satisfied. Why can’t some of you just learn to be grateful . This community can be so

Rivian needs to continue pushing boundaries with their software. I am happy with where the software is today but there's not a great reason for them to stop developing for the "old hardware", as long as maintaining the software for older vehicles doesn't become a hinderance to them.

 

[Southern R1S]

This shutdown is to change from over 35 discrete control modules and spaghetti wiring harneses to a distributed network architecture. They would have to tear the entire vehicle apart. Not gonna happen.

This. It wouldn’t be an upgrade. It would be a rebuild.

I didn't follow 100% of everything in this thread, but I personally could care less about the underlying architecture but I do hope they will offer some sort of path to upgrade the compute hardware (like Tesla does) if that ultimately becomes a necessity to enable additional Driver+ features.

Assuming the cameras & sensors in the current builds are adequate (excluding the driver monitoring camera that has already been confirmed inadequate / disabled and would probably require replacement), it would be very disappointing if there wasn't a paid path to continuing to enable those features to the extent they are rolled out to the R1 platform under new compute hardware.

Disclosure: I know next to nothing about software / hardware so that may all be a pipe dream, but again, just hoping they follow a similar (paid & profitable) path like Tesla to enable whatever simple hardware upgrades may be beneficial in the future.

 

[DoubleTake]

Because they have always said they are upgrading and will be on "par" with the solutions they don't want to offer. Is it wrong to hold them to that?

If they came out and said, this is the car you're getting and updates aren't coming, then all of us would have no ground to stand on since we knew their stance coming into this.

So when will it be okay for them to stop?

 

[DoubleTake]

Rivian needs to continue pushing boundaries with their software. I am happy with where the software is today but there's not a great reason for them to stop developing for the "old hardware", as long as maintaining the software for older vehicles doesn't become a hinderance to them.

I never said they should stop but we shouldn’t. Be complaining. Everything they improve on is a blessing. We could be stuck with day a software just like almost every other manufacturer. We are lucky our vehicles get better every month and shouldn’t take it for granted

 

[elektrode]

So when will it be okay for them to stop?

It seems like the iPhone hardware/software upgrade cycle is a big hint. And resonates with the “current vehicles get 80% of features” notion. (Paraphrased)

Want AI Portrait mode in your photos? Well that requires the new iPhone 123’s camera module.

You still get regular updates, but not all the updates.

 

[FrankieJ]

They could stop upgrading features right not and I would be satisfied. Why can’t some of you just learn to be grateful . This community can be so

I completely agree. I think RivIan has done an admirable job of providing updates on a monthly basis. There will be some features that I wish would come sooner but it is impossible to satisfy ever owners particular needs as quickly as they like. That’s why you get people whining ,yes that‘s what it is, rather than be satisfied with the overall product and patiently waiting for the feature they are looking for. I know of few companies that have sought and acted on suggestions from customers as well as Rivian. If it is streaming services you need now be patient and you’ll get it. In the meantime, use your phone or tablet and be thankful that you have free over the air connectivity because as soon as you get streaming services you will have to pay for it.

 

[SoCal Rob]

They could stop upgrading features right not and I would be satisfied. Why can’t some of you just learn to be grateful . This community can be so

I’m very happy with the progress Rivian has made and the capabilities it has today. That doesn’t mean I’d be happy if they stopped upgrading features since there are some things which all other vehicles in this arena have which Rivian does not. As an example, there is no resume function for the cruise control. I think this is especially annoying given how long cars have had a resume feature (1970s, ant least) and a deterrent to using cruise control and highway assist.

I appreciate the additional functionality they’ve given us! That doesn’t change the fact that Rivian still has a fair amount of work to do simply to catch up to what most consumers expect from a vehicle with this hardware today. I expect Rivian will get there, but I cannot fault the people who aren’t as patient as I am.

 

[djsider2]

So when will it be okay for them to stop?

Rivian chose to release software that was not feature complete and to depend on updates to get them to where they want to be. This is the way all software companies are operating these days so essentially, there is no stopping. However, there is hardware EOL that companies like Apple have implemented. If they matched Apple's pattern, then 99% of us would be fine.

Stopping now will cause some serious trust issues for those of us that believed in them to act like a A1 company. (Just in case anyone else is misreading this, Rivian has not indicated they would stop updating. I'm just responding to this poster's theoretical question)

 

[AllInev]

...but I do hope they will offer some sort of path to upgrade the compute hardware (like Tesla does) if that ultimately becomes a necessity to enable additional Driver+ features.

Unless Rivian becomes profitable over the next few years (assuming they even make it a few more years), I don't think they can afford to allocate the resources to make this happen.

 

[DuoRivian]

Rivian chose to release software that was not feature complete and to depend on updates to get them to where they want to be. This is the way all software companies are operating these days so essentially, there is no stopping. However, there is hardware EOL that companies like Apple have implemented. If they matched Apple's pattern, then 99% of us would be fine.

Stopping now will cause some serious trust issues for those of us that believed in them to act like a A1 company. (Just in case anyone else is misreading this, Rivian has not indicated they would stop updating. I'm just responding to this poster's theoretical question)

It is very close to feature complete and was a few updates after it was released in late 2031 when 360 degree camera and tire pressure monitoring was added. Pet mode, camp mode, dash cam are not needed to be feature complete when competitors like Audi do not offer those in their EVs.

 

[djsider2]

It is very close to feature complete and was a few updates after it was released in late 2031 when 360 degree camera and tire pressure monitoring was added. Pet mode, camp mode, dash cam are not needed to be feature complete when competitors like Audi do not offer those in their EVs.

You know full well they're not aiming for Audi...

For all of you that are actually satisfied, good for you. The rest of us are not complaining because we want more in addition to what was promised/forecased, we just want what they have been selling us on.

 

[Shaqdeez]

I'm not sure I've seen an answer to this but WHEN is the actual refresh happening? Is it for all new builds after the factory reopens? Or is it after the infamous Sep 30, 2024 date? It's not clear when this refresh will occur.

 

[Zoidz]

I'm not sure I've seen an answer to this but WHEN is the actual refresh happening? Is it for all new builds after the factory reopens? Or is it after the infamous Sep 30, 2024 date? It's not clear when this refresh will occur.

The updated network architecture will be in all new builds when the line starts back up, presumably in May. RJ has stated this at least once if not several times. Any other changes that some are calling a "refresh" are purely speculative. I am unaware of anything officially announced/confirmed.

 

[Stickboy46]

Unless Rivian becomes profitable over the next few years (assuming they even make it a few more years), I don't think they can afford to allocate the resources to make this happen.

Not sure what profitability has to do with a paid upgrade path? They can offer it at a price that covers cost of parts and labor and profit for Rivian.

Sponsored