- Rivian R1S and R1T owners now have access to a native YouTube app inside their vehicles.
- This, along with SiriusXM and Google Cast functionality, is part of the latest software update.
- Both the pre-facelift and updated models get the new features.
Rivian makes some very compelling adventure-oriented electric cars, but if you were stuck charging on a slow DC stall, you had very limited multimedia options on the built-in center touchscreen.
Some owners found clever workarounds such as using a USB memory stick to watch pre-downloaded videos, but that’s no longer needed, as the California-based startup is finally rolling out features that have been promised for over a year.
A native YouTube app, a native SiriusXM app, as well as Google Cast functionality, are rolling out right now as part of the software version 2024.47, which is available for both the first- and second-gen R1S and R1T.
The update was announced back in May when Rivian said it would come “soon.” Well, it’s finally here, which means owners can watch YouTube videos on the car’s center screen without having to use their smartphone. The same goes for the SiriusXM app, which uses WiFi or cellular data to stream audio to the vehicle’s speakers.
When it comes to Google Cast, you can think of it as having a built-in Chromecast in the car. If you’re unfamiliar with the tech, it basically means you can use a smartphone as a remote to cast content, including video, to the car’s screen. The content is pulled from the internet by the car, but you need a smartphone to control things like subtitles or choose episodes from a TV series.
Videos can only be played while the car is in Park. Furthermore, while video streaming apps that offer Google Cast functionality include Netflix, Amazon, Prime, Disney+ and Max, Rivian R1S and R1T owners cannot currently cast content from the Netflix app.
Things get a little more complicated when looking at how Rivian is bundling these new features. The YouTube app and Google Cast functionality are part of the company’s Connect+ technology package which costs $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year. Connect+ also includes an in-vehicle hotspot, satellite images for the navigation system, Amazon Alexa commands, Apple Music, Audible, Spotify, Tidal, TuneIn, Gear Guard Live Cam and priority software updates.
SiriusXM satellite radio, on the other hand, is separate from the Connect+ bundle and needs a subscription bought directly from SiriusXM, which costs between $9.99 and $24.98 per month.
Rivian said all customers will have “a temporary preview of the Google Cast and YouTube features that can be streamed through Connect+,” and that a free trial subscription to SiriusXM will be offered.
Besides these new features, the latest software version includes improvements for the Highway Assist system on Gen 2 vehicles, new graphics for some sections of the infotainment system and a bunch of smaller fixes.
