Rivian’s iconic Gear Guard Gary, is more than just a playful mascot – he’s there to keep a watchful eye over your Rivian and the stuff inside. Born from the desire to combine security with a sense of fun, Gear Guard Gary (GGG) has become a symbol of Rivian’s security feature — Gear Guard.
Gary is a lovable and friendly Yeti decked out in a headband, puffy jacket, and boots. When Gear Guard is active on your Rivian, you’ll see his friendly face pop up on the main screen, letting you know he’s keeping a vigilant eye over your vehicle.
For Quad-Max models, Gary makes an even bigger statement. He’s featured as a badge on the rear of the tailgate, proudly marking your vehicle as a flagship model.
But how did Gary come to life? Was he a spontaneous idea, or does he have a deeper backstory? Grab your gear and join us as we venture into the origins of this lovable Yeti.
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The Creator of Gear Guard Gary
Zachariah Ohora is the artist behind Gary, who created the character specifically for Rivian. Zachariah is an illustrator and filmmaker and is currently working on a children’s cartoon that is similar in style to Gear Guard Gary. While Gary hasn’t made an appearance in any episodes yet, his character aligns with Ohora’s ongoing projects, and one of his popular series, Carl the Collector, is currently airing on PBS Kids in both the United States and Canada.
Gary also stars in his own adorable stop-motion film created by Foster Huntington, which premiered at the South Coast Theatre in Laguna Beach. Rivian restored this historic California venue, transforming it into a space for independent films, art workshops, and beach excursions.
The stop-motion film itself is a delightful story. It features an R1T stopping at a small gas station and cafe, where the driver and passenger step out to grab some supplies for the road. With Gear Guard active, he secures his gear in the truck bed using the Gear Guard Security Cable.
The plot takes a turn when a masked robber shows up, only for Gary to greet him with a hug and a friendly wave. When the driver and passenger return, everything is just as they left it, and their adventure continues without a hitch.
Gary’s charm and friendly demeanor shine through as he’s portrayed as a happy companion, always keeping your belongings safe while enjoying the adventure right alongside you.
Gary’s Origin
Rivian’s focus on user experience is where Gary, the lovable Gear Guard character, was born. While Rivian officially refers to him simply as “Gear Guard,” the Rivian community has affectionately named him Gary and the name has stuck.
Gary came into being as part of the playful and fun nature of the Gear Guard system. Initially, Rivian wasn’t sure what form he would take — whether he would be an amorphous blob, have horns, or stretch out with long arms.
Ultimately, Gary represents the unique qualities of the Gear Guard system. He’s smart, non-aggressive, and provides a sense of deterrence. The system is designed to protect both your Rivian and your belongings, all while staying true to Rivian’s adventurous spirit. When Gear Guard is active, Gary appears on the screen, monitoring the surroundings with his camera. When it’s off, he takes a little nap on the screen instead.
Gary’s main purpose is to bring a smile to people’s faces, especially kids. Rivian’s goal is to offer peace of mind — allowing people to enjoy nature and their adventures without worrying about their gear back in the truck.
Gear Guard Gary Easter Egg
If you lock the rear screen in the vehicle, Gary can be summoned by simply tapping on the screen. It’s a simple easter egg, but it’s worth seeing. He’s friendly, cute, and happy to entertain little ones on the rear screen while the screen is off-limits.
Gary Plush
If you’re craving even more Gear Guard Gary, Rivian has you covered with an adorable plush. These plushies are quite popular and often sell out, so be sure to snag one before they’re gone.
The plushie measures about 14” in length and 8” in width with his arms by his sides. He’s dressed in his signature outfit, complete with a headband, jacket, shorts, and boots. While the shorts are removable, the jacket is stitched in place but can be easily removed by undoing the stitching. The headband and boots are not removable.
Rivian has paid close attention to detail, even adding the Rivian logo on the chest of his red fall jacket.
The Gary Plush is well designed and super tough! Maybe not dog-chew-toy-tough, but tough enough for your kids.
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Rivian is moving quickly to address a security oversight that has left some owners feeling vulnerable. After a high-profile report of an accidental frunk opening, the company’s software team has confirmed that new safeguards are officially in development to prevent "butt-dialing" your storage space.
The issue gained traction after X user @dictionaryhill shared a stressful experience at the gym. Recently, when coming out of the gym one day, they noticed that their R1T’s frunk was open with their backpack and other belongings simply there for anyone to potentially grab. The situation was particularly risky because the frunk contained an iPad, a wallet, and $1,000 in cash from a recent Facebook Marketplace sale. Despite having proximity unlocking turned off, the front trunk had sat wide open in a public parking lot for several minutes.
When I came out the gym today, I found my Truck with the frunk open and my backup untouched. It had a Rivian Carabiner key attached to it (I have proximity unlocking off) My iPad, Wallet and countless other crap.
After reaching out to the owner, Rivian’s team was able to verify that the command came from a phone widget. According to Rivian, @dictionaryhill’s iPhone sent out a frunk opening command at 11:50 a.m., which the owner said originated from an accidental screen tap. They walked out of their gym and discovered the truck open just seven minutes later.
Accidental taps on smartphone widgets are a common frustration for EV owners. Because these buttons are designed for quick access, they often lack the "Are you sure?" confirmation required for such a significant physical action. Rivian’s Chief Software Officer, Wassym Bensaid, joined the conversation to acknowledge the flaw. "We can still do a better job to protect from some of the accidental taps with the iOS widgets. Working on it," Bensaid stated.
Learning from the Competition
Rivian isn't the first company to deal with this. Tesla, for example, has a built-in safeguard that asks for confirmation on the screen if you try to open the frunk while your phone key is not actively connected to the vehicle. This ensures that if you accidentally tap the button from a mile away, the car won't just pop open. However, if you are standing right next to the car, it assumes the intent is real and opens immediately.
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Rivian is currently on a roll with highly requested software updates, recently confirming a new battery health menu is also on the way. Adding a confirmation step or a "long-press" requirement for the frunk widget would be a simple but effective fix to keep gear safe, while a proximity check before the command is executed would be a more complex but convenient solution. This is especially important as the company prepares to launch the highly anticipated R2, which features a spacious front trunk that will likely be a primary storage spot for many new owners.
While @dictionaryhill was lucky this time, the incident highlights the growing pains of software-defined vehicles. Rivian’s willingness to engage directly with owners and push out fixes over-the-air remains one of its biggest strengths. We expect to see these new "anti-accidental" options arrive in an upcoming update, perhaps in time for the first R2 deliveries later this spring.
Rivian recently published a patent detailing an innovative rear lighting system for its upcoming vehicles. Titled "Lighting Features for a Lift Gate of a Vehicle," the patent was officially published on March 31, 2026. The document reveals exactly how Rivian plans to keep its SUVs highly visible and legally compliant even when driving with the rear hatch wide open.
Always-Visible Lift Gate
The most practical feature outlined in the patent involves secondary light sources hidden within the lift gate assembly. When a driver hauls an oversized load with a standard lift gate in the open position, the traditional taillights mounted on the hatch are often pointed directly at the sky. Rivian solves this by embedding an additional light source along the bottom edge of the lift gate's interior.
When the vehicle's sensors detect that the lift gate is open, the primary exterior light is deactivated. The system then automatically activates the secondary edge-mounted light source. This ensures a light beam is directed straight back toward trailing vehicles rather than up into the air, functioning perfectly as an active taillight and brake light while the hatch is raised.
Built-In Safety Without the Accessory Cost
This patented solution directly addresses a visibility issue that current Rivian owners already face. For example, when R1T owners haul oversized items with the tailgate down, or when they mount large gear like a rooftop tent that obscures the center high-mounted stop lamp, rear visibility drops significantly.
To combat this, Rivian sells a standalone Auxiliary Brake Light accessory for $200. This newly patented lift gate lighting system completely eliminates the need for that expensive add-on. By building the secondary lights directly into the lift gate assembly, Rivian is ensuring that its future vehicles maintain peak visibility straight from the factory.
This inherently improves safety for all road users by guaranteeing that trailing drivers always have a clear, immediate view of the vehicle's braking intentions, regardless of how much gear is packed into the back.
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Nested Light Signatures
The patent also provides a detailed look at the complex geometry of the rear light bar. The primary taillight is described as having a first end and a second end. Rather than placing turn signals and brake lights in completely separate housings, Rivian surrounds the ends of the main light bar with C-shaped and U-shaped secondary lights.
For example, a dedicated turn signal light completely wraps around the outer edge of the main taillight in a distinctive C-shape. This nested design allows the vehicle to simultaneously illuminate multiple distinct indicators from a highly compact lighting housing.
Aerodynamic Spoiler Integration
Beyond the lift gate itself, the patent details how Rivian is integrating lighting into the upper rear spoiler to maximize aerodynamics. The document outlines a center high-mounted stop lamp that protrudes directly from the spoiler.
However, the spoiler is not mounted flush against the vehicle body. Instead, it defines dedicated spaces between the spoiler structure and the rear of the vehicle. These specific voids allow air to pass cleanly under and through the spoiler assembly while the vehicle is in motion, greatly enhancing the overall aerodynamic efficiency of the SUV.
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