Rivian has officially bridged the gap between your wrist and your vehicle. Starting today, February 19, 2026, the company is rolling out the highly anticipated Rivian Apple Watch companion app alongside its new Autonomy+ subscription service. This update, version 3.9.0 of the mobile app, allows R1T and R1S owners to control their vehicles without needing to reach for their phones.
The new Apple Watch interface is designed as a standalone extension of the vehicle. Drivers can now lock and unlock doors, vent windows, or trigger the alarm with a single tap. For more precise adjustments, the app uses the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown to set cabin temperatures or change the battery’s target state of charge. Users can also pin up to four “quick controls” to their watch face for instant access to their most-used features, such as opening the front trunk (frunk) or checking the Gear Guard camera status.
The update provides a significant boost for owners of first-generation Rivian vehicles (2021-2024). While these older models do not support the passive Digital Key feature in the Apple Wallet, the new watch app allows these drivers to use their watch for proximity-based entry for the first time. As long as the app is open on the watch, Gen 1 owners can walk up and drive away. For Gen 2 owners, the experience is even more seamless, as the watch functions as a passive key that automatically unlocks the vehicle upon approach.
Beyond the watch, Rivian is also launching Autonomy+, its new premium driver-assistance tier. For $49.99 per month (or a one-time $2,500 purchase), subscribers can access Universal Hands-Free driving on over 3.5 million miles of mapped roads across Canada and the US. This includes new Lane Change on Command features and a Spicy driving mode for more dynamic highway performance.
To help with Canada’s winter conditions, the 2026.03 software update includes a new cold-weather range monitor. This tool provides real-time transparency into how low temperatures are affecting the battery, showing exactly how much range is being lost to cabin heating and battery preconditioning. The app also features the iconic “Gear Guard Yeti” on the watch screen, ensuring that even the smallest details of the Rivian brand remain cohesive across every device.
Rivian has confirmed that this Apple Watch rollout is just the beginning. The company plans to add more features over time, including Kneel Mode controls from the wrist and deeper integration with the Apple Health app to monitor driver alertness.
Check out their Rivian Apple Watch promo video below:
Tesla needs to add support for Apple’s Digital Car key feature. It would be so helpful to not have to carry your key card around as a backup, on top of your Apple Watch or iPhone. With CarPlay support said to be coming, maybe Digital Key support for iPhone owners is next?
