Rivian is finally putting an end to one of the most persistent gripes in its community. After years of owners complaining about phones sliding around and failing to charge, the automaker has officially started shipping new vehicles equipped with a factory MagSafe-compatible wireless charging pad.
According to a Reddit post on r/Rivian from user CollectionAutomatic1, the new hardware is already appearing in the latest R1T and R1S Gen 2 builds. "I picked up my new R1T this morning, and to my surprise, it was equipped with the new factory MagSafe charging pad," the user shared. They noted that the new solution works well, charging fairly quickly without making the phone hot. The built-in magnets reportedly hold the device securely with no movement, even during driving.
Solving a Decade-Old Problem
For years, Rivian owners have had to grapple with a subpar inductive charging experience. The original Qi-standard chargers in the R1 series were notoriously finicky; despite having 30 internal coils, they often failed to maintain a connection. Phones would frequently overheat or slide off the "sweet spot" during cornering, prompting many owners to buy third-party 3D-printed mounts just to get their devices to charge.
Rivian tried to remedy the situation in 2024 with a replacement pad, but even that second attempt received negative feedback for being inconsistent. By moving to the MagSafe/Qi2 standard, Rivian is using magnets to perfectly align the phone's coils with the charger. This reduces wasted energy and keeps the phone locked in place, solving the two biggest issues with in-car wireless charging.
Standard on the Upcoming R2
While the new pad is a welcome surprise for current R1 buyers, it was originally announced as a key feature for the upcoming R2 midsize SUV. The R2 is expected to start deliveries later this spring, beginning with the $57,990 R2 Performance Launch Package.
Rivian Wave
Rivian is banking on the R2 to be a high-volume seller, and getting the small details right — like a functional phone charger — is critical for its success. While the R2 and newer R1 units will share this charging tech, they are very different vehicles in terms of size, price, and power.
Retrofit Potential?
For owners of older Gen 1 Rivian vehicles and Gen 2 builds without the new wireless charging solution, there is a glimmer of hope. Photos of the underside of the new MagSafe pad suggest the hardware is a prime candidate for a retrofit.
CollectionAutomatic1 (via Reddit)
Rivian recently withdrew the older Gen 2 Wireless Charger from its Gear Shop, which often hints that a newer, better part is about to go on sale as a standalone accessory. If Rivian does offer this as a retrofit, it would resolve one of the few remaining "drama" points for long-time owners. As the company prepares for a massive year with the R2 launch, finally getting inductive charging right is a small but significant win for the user experience.
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Rivian’s digital debut is officially moving past the rumor stage. After initial leaks earlier this week suggested the electric automaker was headed to Epic Games’ massive ecosystem, we now have a fleshed-out look at the vehicle in-game. While we originally speculated the upcoming R2 would be the star, it is actually the flagship R1S SUV that is preparing to drop into the island.
According to longtime Rivian watcher Chris Hilbert (@Hilbe), the R1S has been spotted within Fortnite’s interface. Screenshots shared by Hilbert showcase a standard white R1S alongside a custom "R.A.D." variant, which stands for Rivian Adventure Department — Rivian’s specialized skunkworks division focused on pushing performance to the absolute limit.
@Hilbe
Adventure Approved: The R.A.D. R1S
The in-game Rivian R1S isn't just a static model; it is part of a dedicated "Rivian Series" that includes custom decals and color schemes. The R.A.D. decal features a retro-inspired orange and yellow stripe over a teal body, giving the high-tech SUV a rugged, classic adventure look.
@Hilbe
The item will be cross-game compatible, meaning if you purchase the R1S in Fortnite, it will automatically become available in your Rocket League garage. Players will be able to drive the SUV in both Battle Royale and Rocket Racing modes. While a leaked shop date mentions it will be available until June 12, 2025, this is almost certainly a placeholder (or someone simply got the year wrong while putting it into the game). All signs point to an official release within the next few weeks.
Expanding the Rivian Digital Lineup
The fact that this is listed as a "Series" in the in-game shop is particularly interesting. It implies that Epic Games and Rivian may have plans to add more vehicles in the future. While the R1S is the current "greatest hits" model for the brand, it would be a missed opportunity not to include the R2 midsize SUV or the rally-inspired R3X eventually.
The R2 is critical for Rivian’s future, with the $57,990 Performance trim set to reach customers later this spring. Introducing its vehicles to the gaming world right as physical R2 deliveries begin would be a massive marketing win, similar to how Tesla brought the Cybertruck into Fortnite to reach younger audiences.
A New Way to Market EVs
Rivian doesn't do traditional TV commercials, so partnering with Fortnite is a high-impact way to embed the brand into pop culture. When a player wins a match or sets a lap record in an R1S, it builds a level of brand affinity that a billboard simply can’t match.
As we wait for the official item shop drop, the R1S is set to become one of the most unique "car bodies" in the game. It’s a smart move that familiarizes millions of potential future buyers with the Rivian nameplate. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the shop for the official price and release date.
Rivian is preparing to turn its vehicles into "AI-defined" machines with the upcoming launch of its highly anticipated digital helper. A new look at the Rivian Assistant suggests that the wait is almost over, with the software expected to debut just as the company begins rolling out its R2 midsize SUV later this spring.
According to longtime Rivian watcher Chris Hilbert (@Hilbe), the assistant is likely to be a "game changer" for the brand. Hilbert shared a short clip of the assistant in action, showing a sleek UI that fits perfectly into Rivian’s existing operating system (video is further below, but there’s no audio). The prevailing theory is that the assistant will hit all Gen 1 and Gen 2 vehicles by the time the first R2 Performance units reach customers in late spring.
What is the Rivian Assistant?
First unveiled at Rivian’s Autonomy & AI Day last December, the Rivian Assistant is far more than just a basic voice command system. Rivian Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid described it as an "agentic framework" that connects your personal digital context — like your Google Calendar — directly into the car’s brain.
During a live demo, Bensaid showed how a driver can simply ask, "What's on my calendar today?" to get a list of events. But it goes deeper than that. The assistant can actually take actions, like moving a meeting to a later time or navigating to a location mentioned in an invite. "The assistant has memory, has context, it remembers the full story, who you're talking to, where you're going, and what you just searched for," Bensaid noted.
I think Rivian Assistant will be available to all vehicles by the time R2 deliveries begin. It has to be soon and is a game changer. pic.twitter.com/EgcRH1thQi
One of the coolest parts of the new assistant is how it handles vehicle settings. Instead of hunting through menus, you can use natural language. For example, if you say, "Can you make the seats toasty for everyone except me?" the car will intelligently warm up every seat besides the driver’s. It also understands context-sensitive commands like "switch to a more efficient drive mode," which triggers Conserve Mode without the driver needing to know the technical name.
Rivian is also finally bringing integrated messaging to its platform. The assistant can read incoming texts, suggest restaurants or shops near your destination based on those messages, and even reply with your current ETA. While the R2 will feature faster hardware to handle these AI tasks locally, Rivian has promised that existing owners won't be left behind.
Timing the Launch with R2
It makes perfect sense for Rivian to debut this software alongside the R2. The R2 is critical for Rivian’s survival, and having a "killer app" like a truly smart AI assistant helps differentiate it from the competition. While Rivian is also working on advanced self-driving tech for 2026, the assistant provides immediate value that owners can use every day.
As the R2 Performance prepares to ship later this spring, followed by the Premium variant later this year and the Standard trims through 2027, the Rivian Assistant will be the "digital face" of the brand. We’re expecting a massive OTA update to hit the fleet soon, finally bridging the gap between a software-defined vehicle and an AI-defined one.
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