Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Rivian's Navigation Gets A Waze UpgradeRivian is giving its EVs one of Waze's most useful features, even as Apple CarPlay remains firmly off the table. The automaker's upcoming 2026.31 software update brings RivianOS 2.0 to the R1T and R1S, including first-generation models, along with Waze-powered alerts for speed cameras and police.The update marks another expansion of Rivian's built-in navigation strategy. Rather than adding phone mirroring, Rivian is bringing features owners might otherwise use through their phones directly into its own software. That means Waze alerts appear within the navigation experience without requiring a separate app or a phone mounted on the dashboard.The Alerts Work Without Waze Or CarPlayReal-time alerts from Waze are coming to R1 and R2 in-vehicle navigation, starting with speed cameras and police reports in the 2026.31 OTA update. More data and alerts to follow! pic.twitter.com/HYUEjzuDwQ— Wassym Bensaid (@WassymBensaid) August 21, 2026Rivian has long argued that its tightly integrated software experience is preferable to projecting a phone interface onto the center screen. This update makes that philosophy a little easier to understand. Bringing RivianOS 2.0 to Gen 1 R1T and R1S models is a particularly good-guy move because they're several years removed from launch. Rivian has been building a software-defined vehicle strategy around the idea that its cars can improve long after they leave the factory. Major interface upgrades like this are an important part of making good on that promise for existing owners.AdvertisementAdvertisementSpeed-camera and police alerts can appear along the route you're already following, giving drivers information that would normally require opening Waze. Rivian Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid has also indicated that hazard and slowdown reports are coming next, adding even more of the functionality drivers associate with Waze.A Handy Feature For A Very Quick EVRivianA Quad Max R1T can hit 60 mph in roughly 2.5 seconds, so a timely warning about a speed camera could be considerably more useful than it sounds. But the more interesting part of Rivian's Waze integration isn't the speed-trap warning itself. It's what the feature says about the company's approach to CarPlay.Rivian still isn't giving owners Apple's phone-mirroring system. Instead, it's gradually adding the features drivers might have wanted to access through it. Navigation, charging information, voice controls, and now Waze-powered alerts can all live within Rivian's own interface. RivianOS 2.0 also brings the newer interface and features already introduced on the R2 to the company's existing flagship models, giving older R1T and R1S owners a much more substantial update than a typical bug-fixing OTA.While it won't satisfy someone who specifically wants CarPlay, it does give Rivian a more credible argument for leaving it out. If the company can keep adding the best parts of the apps owners want, maybe it doesn't need to give up control of the dashboard to get them.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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