Rivian is bringing Waze-powered speed-camera and police alerts to its electric vehicles without adding Apple CarPlay. The upcoming 2026.31 software update introduces RivianOS 2.0 to the R1T and R1S, including first-generation models, while expanding the automaker’s built-in navigation capabilities.
RivianOS 2.0 Brings Waze Alerts
The update allows speed-camera and police alerts to appear within Rivian’s existing navigation experience. Drivers can receive the information along a route they are already following without opening Waze separately or mounting a phone on the dashboard.
The move continues Rivian’s strategy of keeping navigation and other connected features inside its own software rather than relying on phone mirroring. Rivian has argued that its tightly integrated software experience is preferable to projecting a phone interface onto the vehicle’s center screen.
Rivian Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid has indicated that hazard and slowdown reports are also coming next, potentially adding more features associated with Waze to the company’s built-in navigation system.
First-Generation R1T and R1S Get RivianOS 2.0
One notable part of the update is the arrival of RivianOS 2.0 on first-generation R1T and R1S models, which are several years removed from their launch. The update reflects Rivian’s software-defined vehicle strategy, in which its vehicles can receive improvements long after leaving the factory.
RivianOS 2.0 also brings the newer interface and features already introduced on the R2 to the company’s existing flagship models. For first-generation R1T and R1S owners, that represents a more substantial software update than a typical bug-fixing over-the-air update.
Rivian Still Leaves Apple CarPlay Out
Despite adding Waze-powered functionality, Rivian is still not offering Apple CarPlay. Instead, the automaker is gradually bringing features drivers might otherwise access through their phones into its own interface.
Navigation, charging information, voice controls and now Waze-powered alerts can all operate within Rivian’s software. The approach allows Rivian to expand the functionality available to drivers while keeping control of the vehicle’s dashboard experience.
Waze Alerts Add Another Layer to Rivian’s Navigation
The feature could be particularly useful in a vehicle capable of rapid acceleration. A Quad Max R1T can reach 60 mph in roughly 2.5 seconds, making a timely speed-camera warning potentially more useful than it might initially appear.
Still, the broader significance of the Waze integration is how it fits into Rivian’s approach to Apple CarPlay. While the update will not satisfy drivers who specifically want CarPlay, Rivian is continuing to add features that those drivers might otherwise expect to access through phone-based services.
With Waze-powered alerts joining Rivian’s existing navigation, charging information and voice controls, the company is expanding the capabilities of its own software while continuing to leave Apple CarPlay off the table.
