Two weeks after Rivian’s Software Chief Wassym Bensaid said the digital key system would arrive in “an upcoming update,” the EV maker has now pushed back the rollout of the feature.
The Irvine-based brand has confirmed to RivianTrackr that the Digital Key will not be released with the 2025.34 over-the-air update, “as it requires a bit more testing.”
Rivian‘s upcoming 2025.34 software update will improve its assisted driving system and home charging experience, while also fixing audio tuning issues that the company’s Software Chief previously promised to address.
It was also set to introduce the Rivian digital key, which allows owners to add their key to their digital wallet on their smartphone or smartwatch.
“With the digital key, you can seamlessly access and drive your vehicle and share keys with family and friends,” the company says in the release notes.
The feature is compatible with Apple (iPhone and Apple Watch), Google Pixel and Samsung devices. It will be compatible with Rivian‘s second-generation vehicles.
Two weeks ago, when Bensaid announced on X that the feature was on the way, MacRumors pointed out that Apple had already enabled support on its side.
Rivian, however, hadn’t officially launched the feature yet — meaning the foundation was ready, but owners still couldn’t use it.
According to the release notes, the new update will introduce the Co-Steer feature, which allows drivers to adjust their position within a lane using gentle steering inputs while Highway Assist is on — without the system disengaging.
The availability of the Enhanced Highway Assist is set to increase up to 50% on urban and suburban highways.
Last week, speaking with Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas, CEO RJ Scaringe had stated that the company would be increasing by “something like 50x” the number of roads in which the vehicle will be able to drive itself.
As Rivian rolled out its 2025.26 software update last month, Wassym Bensaid said that that “more improvements” were coming to the infotainment system, after the company integrated Google Maps in mid-July.
He had previously answered Rivian owners who had complained about audio quality that there were “audio tuning changes that are in the works.”
While they haven’t been included in the August update, they seem to be addressed in the upcoming one.
According to the notes, Rivian is fixing fine-tuned equalization and improving blending of Dolby Atmos content.
Last week, Wassym Bensaid affirmed that the company would be unveiling a smart charging feature, allowing customers to time their home-charging sessions, a few months after it has partnered with WeaveGrid for home-based charging solutions.
The new feature will allow owners to schedule charging sessions during off-peak hours, helping reduce electricity costs.
