Rivian introduces Apple Watch app with car controls and digital key

Just a few weeks after launching the Rivian Digital Key update, which added a lot of proximity-based features, Rivian has doubled down and launched a new dedicated Apple Watch model. The Apple Watch update was designed as an extension of the Rivian iPhone app, giving you all the most used features on your wrist. It has quick customizable controls, a stylish car mode, and support for digital keys (depending on the make of your car). I got early access to the app, so here’s what you need to know.

Rivian Apple Watch App

I was curious to see how Rivian would implement all of their digital controls on the much smaller display on the Apple Watch. The app provides access to several important car controls and is optimized for the small Apple Watch display. From your watch, you can:

• Lock or unlock the doors
• Ventilation windows
• Sound the alarm
• Adjust the cabin temperature
• Set up a guided payment status using Digital Crown

The app lets you customize up to four quick controls, so you can quickly access your most-used actions. The app also has dedicated pages for specific controls and features. You can use your digital crown to scroll through them all. You get dedicated pages for climate control, battery and range information, Gear Guard access, and Rivian location data. All these features mirror the iPhone app, so it’s always easy to navigate and familiar to all Rivian owners.

My experience

As I said, I had early access to the Apple Watch update, and I got to see first-hand how this all works. The best part was that there was no new setup. All you do is update the Rivian iPhone app to the latest version, and the Rivian Apple Watch App will appear on your watch. As long as you’ve been connected to your iPhone, your watch will be connected too. Everything worked as intended. All the controls on the watch worked quickly, without problems. Customizing your four main controls is also easy; you just long press the control you want to change, and you can select the control you want.

The best part for me is that they added an Apple Watch issue! So you can customize your problem to show the current status of the Rivian battery, and it doubles as a shortcut. So at a glance, I can see how much battery I have, and if I need to go into an app, I can just touch that issue. It’s very easy, simple, and very useful. Plus, just knowing that you can control your car in the palm of your hand gives you peace of mind, especially if you’re like me and always forget to call them when they need to get something out of the car.

Digital key and login information

I want to make a note of keyless entry and proximity entry. How to access the car depends on the Rivian generation. In Gen 1 vehicles, drivers can tap the lock icon within the app to unlock the vehicle and drive once the app is open. So it’s still possible to use just your Apple Watch as a master key. However, for Gen 2 vehicles, Rivian supports single sign-on. Once the digital key is configured, the car unlocks itself automatically as the driver approaches, allowing for a hands-free entry experience similar to smartphone-based digital keys. I have a Gen 2, and the digital key info is really helpful with keyless entry.

Availability and final thoughts

A new app update is available now. Just go to your app store, update the app, and the Apple Watch app will appear on your watch and be ready to go. I think this is a great free added feature for Rivian owners. It lets you do everything the iPhone app does, but in your hand. It’s reliable, efficient, and gives you a second way to access your car that’s always with you. The best feature for me is the battery compartment, love that on my watch.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you own a Rivian? Have you updated your app? Were you expecting this to be released? Let’s discuss below

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