First Look at Rivian's 'Gear Guard Live Cam' Feature Coming Soon in Update 2024.35

By Rivian Wave Staff
Rivian Wave

Rivian is preparing to launch a highly anticipated feature in its upcoming 2024.35 vehicle software update: the Gear Guard Live Cam. This new addition will give Rivian owners more control over their vehicle's security, allowing them to view live camera feeds directly from the Rivian app.

While the 2024.35 update has yet to go out, it's expected to roll out in the coming weeks. Yesterday, Rivian added Live Cam support to its latest app update (v2.14).

Gear Guard Live Cam Features

We were lucky enough to get our hands on a couple of tutorial images from the app update that reveals how the feature will work. When you launch Gear Guard Live Cam, you'll see a single feed from one of the vehicle's cameras. Beneath the video, users can easily switch between the camera view by tapping an arrow that’s overlaid on top of the vehicle's image. For the R1S, you’ll have four options, including the front camera, side-view cameras, and rear camera. While R1T owners will also have access to the truck’s bed camera, located at the center of the camera controls.

The interface also features two buttons at the bottom of the screen. One allows users to switch to full-screen video for a more detailed view, and the other appears that it will be used to trigger an alarm or special alert to warn individuals near the vehicle.

Rivian Wave

Requirements

In order to use Rivian’s new Gear Guard Live Cam, you’ll need several things. The good news is that the feature will be available on Gen 1 and Gen 2 vehicles, so they’re all included. Even if you have the latest app update, your vehicle will still need to have update 2024.35 for the feature to show up in your app.

The Gear Guard Live Cam will also require a subscription to Rivian's Connect+ plan, which costs $14.99 per month, or $149.99 per year. However, new vehicle purchases come with a free trial, and Rivian recently offered two months free when Connect+ was launched last month. We expect this feature to become available to most owners before the free trial runs out so that they can experience it for free.

Rivian Announces Hands-Free Driving Coming Soon; Eyes Off in 2026

By Karan Singh
Rivian Wave

Earlier this year, CEO RJ Scaringe addressed the topic of autonomy at the San Francisco Rivian Space opening, revealing that Rivian plans to add hands-free highway driving this year. Yesterday, during its earnings call, Rivian shared even more information, saying that their hands-free feature arriving on Gen 2 vehicles in just a few weeks.

Autonomy Light

Rivian plans to leverage the light bar on their Gen 2 vehicles to show other drivers when the vehicle’s Autonomy Platform+ feature is enabled. This feature has been adopted by a few brands, including Mercedes-Benz in its Drive Pilot ADAS, and some Chinese brands as well.

Hands-Free 2025

While RJ revealed that Rivian will be launching a hands-free ADAS system this year in San Francisco, he has now added that it’s coming in the next several weeks. If you’ve used a recent version of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised), the experience will likely feel familiar.

For those who haven’t, Rivian’s Autonomy Platform+ will enable hands-free highway driving, including automatic lane changes and exit maneuvers. However, drivers will likely need to take control upon reaching their exit—more on that later.

Similar to Tesla, while the driver is hands-free, attention to the road is required. Rivian’s Driver Monitoring System (DMS) ensures this by combining seat weight sensors with a camera embedded in the rearview mirror.

Eyes-Off 2026

The most interesting part of the announcement was that Rivian plans to launch an “eyes-off” system in 2026. That means that you won’t need to keep an eye on your vehicle as it navigates the highways - you’ll be able to take your eyes off the road, send some texts from your phone, and perhaps watch a movie or play a game on your center display.

The DMS will be disabled, and you’ll only be notified if you need to take over.

Highways or Streets?

Rivian has previously indicated that its autonomy efforts are focused on highways rather than the complexities of city streets. RJ Scaringe didn’t specify whether Rivian plans to expand beyond highway driving.

Highways are significantly easier to navigate than urban environments, so it’s reasonable to assume that the upcoming features and timelines will apply to Platform+ on highways—the only place Rivian originally intended for hands-free operation.

This means the system will handle driving from on-ramp to off-ramp, making long highway commutes and road trips far easier and more enjoyable.

Gen 2 Only

Unfortunately for early adopters, these improvements are exclusive to the Autonomy Platform+, which means that they won’t apply to any Gen 1 vehicles built before 2025.

Free Trial & Price

Rivian also shared that all Gen 2 owners will receive a free trial that includes these new features, hinting that they may soon start charging for their ADAS. Rivian has yet to announce pricing for their Autonomy Platform+ features, but to remain competitive we expect them to be similar to Tesla’s. Tesla currently costs $8,000 to buy FSD or $100 per month to subscribe to the service.

Liability

Liability is a major question when it comes to autonomy. While Rivian’s hands-free system will undoubtedly hold the driver responsible, the stakes change with an eyes-off system. Who assumes liability when the vehicle is fully autonomous? Will it be Rivian, or does responsibility still fall on the driver?

In Germany, Mercedes-Benz takes full liability when Drive Pilot is engaged within its strict operating conditions. As ADAS systems push closer to fully autonomous capabilities—Tesla’s FSD included—these questions become even more critical.

Regardless, 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Rivian with the launch of the hands-off feature many drivers have been waiting for. We’re eager to see how it performs and what other innovations Rivian has in store.

Rivian’s Compass Logo: What It Means and Its History

By Karan Singh
Rivian Wave

Every company has a logo—an emblem that instantly conveys its identity. These small yet powerful symbols often fade into the background, but they play a crucial role in branding.

Surprisingly, Rivian operated without a logo for a significant portion of its early years. When RJ Scaringe founded the company in 2009, there was no official emblem. It wasn’t until 2017 after Rivian acquired its manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, that the logo design process began. A year later, in 2018, Rivian’s now-iconic logo was unveiled to the public.

Rivian is built on the spirit of adventure, and its logo reflects that ethos. So grab your compass—and let’s explore the story behind the Rivian Compass.

The Compass

While some companies incorporate hidden meanings into their logos, Rivian’s design is more straightforward. Inspired by adventure, the Rivian logo features a distinctive squared-off compass, symbolizing the essence of adventure and exploration.

It represents the drive to go beyond the beaten path and forge new journeys where few have ventured. Just as the magnetic compass once revolutionized navigation, Rivian seeks to redefine how people explore today.

With its electric vehicles and cutting-edge technology, Rivian empowers people to experience the world sustainably and responsibly. By providing access to remote and wild places, Rivian inspires a deeper connection with nature and rekindles the thrill of adventure—something more essential than ever in today’s fast-paced world.

Breaking Down the Rivian Logo

Rivian’s logo features four arrows, each mirroring the many directions an adventure can take—north, south, east, west, and everywhere in between. It’s a visual commitment to exploration, reinforcing Rivian’s identity as the go-to EV brand for adventurers. With the R1S and R1T already among the best off-road vehicles available and the upcoming R2 and R3 promising to follow suit, that promise is well on its way.

According to Rivian, the outer north and south arrows symbolize their mission to make the world a better place through innovation and adventure, while the inner east and west arrows represent their goal to be both inspiring and inviting to everyone.

As Rivian puts it, a logo is more than just a design on a vehicle or a piece of swag—it’s a promise. A promise that no matter where your journey leads, Rivian will help point you in the right direction.

Latest Rivian Update

More Rivian News