Rivian is rolling out software update 2026.36 to its R2 SUV, adding a Pet Cam feature that streams live video from the cabin camera to the owner's phone via the Rivian app. The feed includes a temperature badge, and the app also delivers regular still images to the lock screen for quick checks. Owners inside the vehicle can stop the stream with a single tap on the center display. Rivian notes that more than 60% of its customers travel with a dog, which likely drove the quick turnaround.
R1T and R1S owners do not get Pet Cam, as the feature relies on the R2's dedicated cabin camera. Instead, they receive remote control of Pet Mode, allowing them to turn it on or off from the app after leaving the vehicle, with a confirmation prompt to prevent accidental activation. Both R1 and R2 owners will need a Connect+ subscription for remote camera livestreaming, which costs $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year and includes a one-hour daily streaming cap. The fine print also states that interior viewing only works with Pet Mode enabled and is not intended for people.
The same update brings the Rivian Assistant to the R2, four months after the vehicle's June launch. The AI voice assistant can adjust climate, media, and navigation, answer questions, and identify songs, but it also requires Connect+. Rivian says 2026.36 is now rolling out to eligible vehicles, a month after unifying the R1 and R2 on a single software platform.