Rivian has launched a new Apple Watch companion app as part of its 2026.03 software update that allows owners of R1T and R1S electric vehicles to perform key vehicle controls directly from the Apple Watch, including locking and unlocking doors, venting windows, sounding alarms, adjusting cabin temperature, and even setting a target battery charge — effectively turning the wearable into a digital key and control hub without needing to pull out a phone. Sources describe generational differences in functionality, with first-generation vehicles requiring a tap in the app to unlock while second-generation models can unlock automatically as the owner with a paired digital key approaches, and the app also offers customizable quick actions and glanceable vehicle status for convenient access. The update underscores Rivian’s emphasis on software enhancements as a competitive differentiator in the EV market.
Sources
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/19/rivian-owners-will-be-able-to-access-vehicle-controls-through-their-apple-watch/
https://9to5mac.com/2026/02/19/rivian-launches-new-apple-watch-app-with-vehicle-controls-digital-key-more/
https://ev.com/news/rivian-adds-apple-watch-controls-for-r1t-and-r1s
Key Takeaways
• Rivian’s new Apple Watch app brings core vehicle controls — locking/unlocking, windows, alarm, climate, battery settings — to the wrist, enhancing convenience and reducing reliance on a smartphone.
• The app acts as a digital key, with differing behavior by vehicle generation — manual tap for Gen 1 models and passive automatic unlock for Gen 2 when a digital key is configured.
• Customizable quick actions and glanceable vehicle information reflect Rivian’s continued focus on software innovation to differentiate its EV offerings.
In-Depth
Rivian’s announcement of a dedicated Apple Watch companion app marks a noteworthy development in how electric vehicle owners interact with their vehicles, highlighting a broader trend where software and ecosystem integration become pivotal selling points in the EV market. With the rollout of its 2026.03 update, Rivian owners of R1T and R1S models can now execute essential vehicle functions from the convenience of an Apple Watch, reducing the need to handle a smartphone or physical key in routine scenarios. Users gain the ability to lock and unlock doors, vent windows, trigger the vehicle alarm, adjust cabin temperature, and set a target state of charge — all from a device already strapped to their wrist. This capacity to manage vehicle features seamlessly at a glance is positioned as both a convenience and a safety enhancement, especially for owners who value light travel or outdoor activities where digging for a phone could be inconvenient.
The digital key aspect of the app reflects an important evolution in Rivian’s software ecosystem. First-generation R1 vehicles, produced between 2021 and 2024, require owners to actively open the Apple Watch app and tap a lock icon to unlock before driving; this functionality extends digital key capability to devices that previously lacked native support. For second-generation vehicles, the experience is more frictionless — once a digital key has been set up in the app, the vehicle will automatically unlock as an owner with a paired Apple Watch approaches, made possible through secure digital key technologies. This passive entry experience aligns Rivian more closely with modern expectations for vehicle access convenience and mirrors digital key implementations found in other ecosystems, yet with the added benefit of wrist-based control.
Customizability is a major theme in the app’s design. Owners can select up to four “quick actions” that appear prominently, allowing rapid access to the functions they use most without navigating through menus. Leveraging the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown for tactile control — such as adjusting climate settings or target battery charge — offers a more intuitive interaction than traditional touchscreen interfaces. Rivian has also introduced supportive features like watch complications that display glanceable vehicle information, such as battery level or range, directly on a user’s watch face alongside fitness and weather data.
From a strategic standpoint, this launch underscores Rivian’s emphasis on software as a competitive differentiator. As the EV market becomes more crowded, automakers increasingly distinguish themselves through the user experience and connectivity features. Rivian’s dedicated Apple Watch app serves both as a practical tool for existing owners and as a signal of the company’s priorities in extending its software ecosystem. While some competitors explore alternative integrations, Rivian’s focus on deep hardware and software synergy — particularly within the Apple ecosystem — could appeal to consumers who value seamless, cross-device functionality.
Security and user experience remain critical considerations. By extending digital key functionality and key controls to a widely used wearable, Rivian is betting that customers will appreciate the convenience without compromising safety. The app’s rollout also comes as Rivian continues broader updates to its vehicles’ software platform, suggesting the company sees incremental feature enhancements — like Wrist-based control — as vital to retaining and growing its user base. Whether these kinds of integrations become standard across the industry or serve as a genuine competitive edge will become clearer as Rivian and other EV makers innovate further in the coming years.
Implementing such advanced integration requires careful attention to user needs and technological reliability, but for owners already embedded in the Apple ecosystem, Rivian’s approach could make everyday interactions with their vehicle feel both modern and effortless. Remote access from an Apple Watch transforms the way drivers think about vehicle control — from a phone tethered experience to an always-present extension of the driver’s own wrist — and reflects how automotive interfaces continue evolving alongside consumer tech trends.