Rivian provides two audio options on all its new vehicles – a standard audio package, and the premium audio package. The amount of time that is spent listening to audio in a vehicle makes the audio system an important decision in a new vehicle purchase.
So, grab your favorite music track (preferably with Dolby Atmos), and let’s take a listen at what Rivian is packing in their vehicles.
Rivian Standard Audio
Rivian offers a standard audio package by default, which was previously a system by Meridian, but was later replaced by an in-house solution in February 2023, so all second-generation Rivians will include the newer system. Rivian’s in-house standard audio is the one we’ll be looking at here, not the older Meridian system.
Rivian’s new in-house system is named Elevation and has had mixed reviews after the removal of the Meridian system – which also went by the name of Elevation. Rivian’s standard audio tends to distort sounds at higher volumes — regardless of the audio source. In addition, the bass response is muddier and weaker than one might expect, especially given the internal size of the R1T and R1S. This is likely due to the base sound system only including 10 speakers on a 600-watt system, which doesn’t include a dedicated subwoofer.
However, the standard audio setup on a Rivian is far better than the standard or even premium setups from many other manufacturers. Many owners have noted that when transitioning from vehicles at or below the price point of the R1T or R1S Dual Large, the standard audio system is not only better designed, but also delivers superior sound quality.
Overall, for what you get by default with Rivian’s standard offering, you’re getting a pretty good – but not fantastic – audio system that can keep up with other manufacturer’s standard offerings. However, don’t expect to get anything premium here and Dolby Atmos support is not included – after all, that’s the next package up.
Rivian Premium Audio With Dolby Atmos
Rivian
The other package that Rivian offers on all its vehicles is the Rivian Premium Audio Package, which costs an additional $1,750 USD or $2,600 CAD. Audio fans and Rivian fans alike were quite happy when Rivian unveiled this new Premium Audio package, which promised to solve all the gripes people have had with Rivian’s standard offering.
One of the biggest pluses for the premium package is the inclusion of Dolby Atmos – an immersive, 360-degree experience that adds more depth, clarity, and details to songs that support its use. Users on X have found that the new Dolby Atmos support – which was just enabled a short while ago in update 2024.27 – has been fantastic.
As a note, Dolby Atmos support is only available in Apple Music and Audible only for now. While Tidal does support Dolby Atmos, there isn’t support for it within your Rivian just yet. The last option – Spotify – doesn’t support Hi-Fi audio or Dolby Atmos. Keep in mind that you’ll need a subscription to Rivian’s Connect+ in order to take advantage of Dolby Atmos.
Standard Audio
Premium Audio
Speakers (R1T)
10
16
Speakers (R1S)
12
18
Output
600 watts
960 watts
Dolby Atmos Support
No
Yes
Price
Included
$1,750 USD
Overall, the updated premium audio system has been extremely well reviewed so far, with many mentioning that the updated 18-speakers and 960-watt output feel like they properly fill the soundstage within the R1S. The smaller cabin of the R1T features a 16-speaker system with the same 960-watt output.
If you love listening to music and are on the fence about which audio package to choose, we recommend visiting a Rivian Space or Service Center and asking to listen to both versions – and make sure to listen to a song with Dolby Atmos support. The surround sound experience with Dolby Atmos is one of the things that helps differentiate Rivian’s audio system.
If you’re someone who loves modding or upgrading your vehicle’s audio, we still recommend picking up Rivian’s Premium system. Having access to all 18 speakers, as well as Dolby Atmos support is something you’ll want, even if you’re putting in more power than Rivian’s 960-watt system.
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest Rivian news, upcoming features and software updates.
As Rivian prepares for its biggest production ramp yet, the company is quietly building out the executive team needed to support a massive influx of new owners. A recent move to fill two high-level leadership positions signals that major updates are on the horizon for both Rivian Insurance and Rivian Care, the company’s in-house protection programs.
The expansion was first highlighted by Rivian enthusiast Chris Hilbert (@Hilbe), who shared a call for talent from Mike Slattery, Rivian’s Head of Insurance. Slattery’s announcement makes it clear that the company is looking to move beyond "business as usual" by leveraging its connected vehicle platform to rethink how insurance and warranties work.
Building a "High-Impact" Support Engine
The first of the two roles, the Sr. Program Operations Lead for Rivian Care, will serve as the "operational engine" behind the company’s vehicle protection products. This includes scaling high-impact programs like service contracts, windshield protection, and wheel and tire plans across multiple markets.
Currently, Rivian — whose name reflects a focus on the adventurous spirit of the Indian River — offers Rivian Care as a pilot program powered by Assurant. It is designed to protect vehicles like the R1T and R1S beyond their standard manufacturer’s warranty, covering critical components like the high-voltage battery and drivetrain. With a dedicated operations lead now joining the team, it’s likely that this pilot phase is nearing an end in favor of a more robust, permanent program.
The Future of Connected Insurance
The second position is an Insurance Agency Leader based on the ground at Rivian’s manufacturing hub in Bloomington/Normal, Illinois. Slattery noted that this leader will be tasked with driving profitability while keeping the owner experience central, all while "leveraging vehicle intelligence to fundamentally change how vehicle protection products actually work!"
Rivian Insurance is already a licensed agency available in all 50 U.S. states, but its potential is only just being tapped. Much like Tesla Insurance, which recently released its Safety Score 3.0 to further reward drivers who use the company’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system, Rivian is looking to use data-driven rates via its Driver+ system. By using the vehicle’s internal intelligence, Rivian can offer custom policies tailored to the exact risk profile of its drivers, making the transition from R1 to the mass market much smoother.
A mass-market vehicle brings a much broader audience, many of whom will expect first-party extended warranties and competitive insurance rates right out of the box. By scaling these leadership roles now, Rivian is ensuring it has the "operational engine" ready to handle tens of thousands of new R2 owners. This proactive hiring suggests that when the R2 configurator opens later this year, it will likely be accompanied by a more integrated and transparent suite of protection products than ever before.
Rivian is taking a major step toward closing the loop on battery life. The electric vehicle maker has officially announced a partnership with Redwood Materials to deploy a first-of-its-kind energy storage system at its Normal, Illinois, manufacturing facility. By repurposing more than 100 "second-life" battery packs from its vehicles, Rivian will create a 10 megawatt-hour (MWh) storage reservoir to help power the very plant where its cars are built.
This partnership is a massive win for sustainability. EV batteries are designed to be incredibly durable, often outlasting the vehicles themselves. Even when a pack is no longer ideal for high-performance driving, it still holds significant value for stationary storage. By utilizing these assets, Rivian is ensuring its environmental footprint remains as small as possible.
Repurposing for the R2 Ramp
The timing of this installation is particularly critical. Rivian’s Normal plant is currently gearing up for mass production of the R2, the company’s first affordable, mass-market SUV. After recently beating Q1 delivery estimates, the factory is under immense pressure to scale.
Rivian Wave
The new 10 MWh system will provide "dispatchable energy," meaning Rivian can pull power from these batteries during peak demand periods. This will not only lower energy costs for the company but also reduce the overall load on the local electrical grid, supporting reliability for the surrounding community.
“EVs represent a massive, distributed and highly competitive energy resource,” said Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe. “As energy needs grow, our grid needs to be flexible, secure, and affordable. Our partnership with Redwood enables us to utilize our vehicle’s batteries beyond the life of a vehicle and contribute to grid health and American competitiveness.”
Solving the Industrial Growth Constraint
The "secret sauce" behind this setup is Redwood’s proprietary Pack Manager technology. This system acts as a universal translator, allowing Redwood to communicate with and control different battery packs regardless of their original voltage or state of health.
JB Straubel, the founder and CEO of Redwood Materials (and former Tesla CTO), highlighted that the grid is currently struggling to keep up with the demands of modern manufacturing. “Electricity demand is accelerating faster than the grid can expand, posing a constraint on industrial growth,” Straubel said. “Our partnership with Rivian shows how EV battery packs can be turned into dispatchable energy resources, bringing new capacity online quickly, supporting critical manufacturing, and reducing strain on the grid without waiting years for new infrastructure. This is a scalable model for how we add meaningful energy capacity in the near term.”
A Scalable Model for the Future
This 10 MWh project is just the beginning. Redwood estimates that by 2030, the U.S. will need over 600 GWh of storage to stabilize the grid — a massive amount of energy equivalent to the Hoover Dam running for two months straight.
By turning old EV batteries into stationary assets before they are eventually recycled, companies can defer billions of dollars in costly infrastructure upgrades. As Rivian prepares to hand over the first R2 keys later this spring, its factory will be running on a smarter, more resilient energy loop that proves the "second life" of a battery is just as important as the first.
![Rivian's Upcoming AI Assistant: First Look [VIDEO]](https://www.rivianwave.com/img/paths/storage/rivian-screen/rivian-ai-assistant-search.webp/c89f7eefe92d9acd1a1ab3d5574e43ea/rivian-ai-assistant-search.jpg)
