Privacy Policy

Protecting your private information is our priority. This Statement of Privacy applies to https://www.NotATeslaApp.com and Not a Tesla App and governs data collection and usage. For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, unless otherwise noted, all references to Not a Tesla App include https://www.NotATeslaApp.com. The Not a Tesla App website is a News and information site. By using the Not a Tesla App website, you consent to the data practices described in this statement.

Advertising

This Site is affiliated with CMI Marketing, Inc., d/b/a CafeMedia ("CafeMedia") for the purposes of placing advertising on the Site, and CafeMedia will collect and use certain data for advertising purposes. To learn more about CafeMedia's data usage, click here.

Analytics Collection

We use Google Analytics to analyze the use of our website. Google Analytics gathers information about website use by means of cookies. The information gathered relating to our website is used to create reports about the use of our website. You can read Google's privacy policy here.

Collection of your Personal Information

In order to better provide you with products and services offered on our Site, Not a Tesla App may collect personally identifiable information, such as your e-mail address, geographic region and/or Tesla model.

We do not collect any personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it to us. However, you may be required to provide certain personal information to us when you elect to use certain products or services available on the Site. These may include: (a) registering for an account on our Site; (b) entering a sweepstakes or contest sponsored by us or one of our partners; (c) signing up for special offers from selected third parties; (d) sending us an email message; (e) submitting your credit card or other payment information when ordering and purchasing products and services on our Site. To wit, we will use your information for, but not limited to, communicating with you in relation to services and/or products you have requested from us. We also may gather additional personal or non-personal information in the future.

Use of your Personal Information

Not a Tesla App collects and uses your personal information to operate its website(s) and deliver the services you have requested.

Not a Tesla App may also use your personally identifiable information to inform you of other products or services available from Not a Tesla App and its affiliates.

Sharing Information with Third Parties

Not a Tesla App does not sell, rent or lease its customer lists to third parties.

Not a Tesla App may share data with trusted partners to help perform statistical analysis, send you email or postal mail, provide customer support, or arrange for deliveries. All such third parties are prohibited from using your personal information except to provide these services to Not a Tesla App, and they are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information.

Not a Tesla App may disclose your personal information, without notice, if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on Not a Tesla App or the site; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of Not a Tesla App; and/or (c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of Not a Tesla App, or the public.

Automatically Collected Information

Information about your computer hardware and software may be automatically collected by Not a Tesla App. This information can include: your IP address, browser type, domain names, access times and referring website addresses. This information is used for the operation of the service, to maintain quality of the service, and to provide general statistics regarding use of the Not a Tesla App website.

Use of Cookies

The Not a Tesla App website may use "cookies" to help you personalize your online experience. A cookie is a text file that is placed on your hard disk by a web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you.

One of the primary purposes of cookies is to provide a convenience feature to save you time. The purpose of a cookie is to tell the Web server that you have returned to a specific page. For example, if you personalize Not a Tesla App pages, or register with Not a Tesla App site or services, a cookie helps Not a Tesla App to recall your specific information on subsequent visits. This simplifies the process of recording your personal information, such as billing addresses, shipping addresses, and so on. When you return to the same Not a Tesla App website, the information you previously provided can be retrieved, so you can easily use the Not a Tesla App features that you customized.

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most Web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the Not a Tesla App services or websites you visit.

Links

This website contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of any other site that collects personally identifiable information.

Security of your Personal Information

Not a Tesla App secures your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Not a Tesla App uses the following methods for this purpose: SSL Protocol.

When personal information (such as a credit card number) is transmitted to other websites, it is protected through the use of encryption, such as the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol.

We strive to take appropriate security measures to protect against unauthorized access to or alteration of your personal information. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet or any wireless network can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information, you acknowledge that: (a) there are security and privacy limitations inherent to the Internet which are beyond our control; and (b) security, integrity, and privacy of any and all information and data exchanged between you and us through this Site cannot be guaranteed.

Right to Deletion

Subject to certain exceptions set out below, on receipt of a verifiable request from you, we will:

Delete your personal information from our records; and
Direct any service providers to delete your personal information from their records.

Please note that we may not be able to comply with requests to delete your personal information if it is necessary to:

Complete the transaction for which the personal information was collected, fulfill the terms of a written warranty or product recall conducted in accordance with federal law, provide a good or service requested by you, or reasonably anticipated within the context of our ongoing business relationship with you, or otherwise perform a contract between you and us;
Detect security incidents, protect against malicious, deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity; or prosecute those responsible for that activity;
Debug to identify and repair errors that impair existing intended functionality;
Exercise free speech, ensure the right of another consumer to exercise his or her right of free speech, or exercise another right provided for by law;
Comply with the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act;
Engage in public or peer-reviewed scientific, historical, or statistical research in the public interest that adheres to all other applicable ethics and privacy laws, when our deletion of the information is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of such research, provided we have obtained your informed consent;
Enable solely internal uses that are reasonably aligned with your expectations based on your relationship with us;
Comply with an existing legal obligation; or
Otherwise use your personal information, internally, in a lawful manner that is compatible with the context in which you provided the information.

Children Under Thirteen

Not a Tesla App does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of thirteen. If you are under the age of thirteen, you must ask your parent or guardian for permission to use this website.

E-mail Communications

From time to time, Not a Tesla App may contact you via email for the purpose of providing announcements, promotional offers, alerts, confirmations, surveys, and/or other general communication. In order to improve our Services, we may receive a notification when you open an email from Not a Tesla App or click on a link therein.

If you would like to stop receiving marketing or promotional communications via email from Not a Tesla App, you may opt out of such communications by visiting https://www.NotATeslaApp.com/preferences.

Changes to this Statement

Not a Tesla App reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you about significant changes in the way we treat personal information by sending a notice to the primary email address specified in your account, by placing a prominent notice on our site, and/or by updating any privacy information on this page. Your continued use of the Site and/or Services available through this Site after such modifications will constitute your: (a) acknowledgment of the modified Privacy Policy; and (b) agreement to abide and be bound by that Policy.

Contact Information

Not a Tesla App welcomes your questions or comments regarding this Statement of Privacy. If you believe that Not a Tesla App has not adhered to this Statement, please contact Not a Tesla App using the Contact Us form on the website.

Effective as of April 1, 2021

Rivian to Add Safeguards Against Accidental Frunk Opening

April 9, 2026

By Nehal Malik

Rivian Wave

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.

Just sold something on FB marketplace earlier and had 1k cash. pic.twitter.com/ik7qWA7Soj
— Meccanica (@dictionaryhill) April 5, 2026

The Problem with iOS Widgets

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.

Rivian Wave

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’s R3 Innovative Rear Tailgate Lighting Revealed in New Patent

April 9, 2026

By Karan Singh

Rivian Wave

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.

Rivian Wave

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.