Rivian Software Issues
Rivian has announced a recall of 24,000 electric vehicles due to issues with the Highway Assist software. 2025 models may fail to recognize other vehicles on the road, requiring a software update via the OTA system. Simultaneously, the company is developing a software solution for future Volkswagen electric vehicles, which are expected to appear in 2027.
Impact on Future Volkswagen Models
New Volkswagen models, including the ID. Golf, will receive software from Rivian, which German executives believe will give them a competitive advantage. However, a software issue discovered with Rivian in the US has led to the recall of thousands of electric vehicles, which may cause concern at Volkswagen.
Recall Details
The issue concerns the Highway Assist (HWA) system installed on the R1T pickup and R1S SUV. Software versions prior to 2025.18.30 may incorrectly identify vehicles ahead. With up to 1050 hp, this could lead to serious accidents.
Software Update
A total of 24,214 R1S and R1T electric vehicles from the 2025 model year require a software update to fix the malfunction. Given the limited number of Rivian service centers (currently about 81, with plans to increase to 100 by the end of 2025), the update can be performed remotely.
Incident and Driver Responsibility
Rivian reports one accident related to this issue, where the HWA system on a 2025 R1S detected a functional limitation at a very low speed. According to NHTSA documentation, the driver failed to maintain constant control of the vehicle, indicating possible insufficient attention on their part, as HWA is only a Level 2 system and requires the driver to be ready to take over control.
Development of Driver Assistance Systems
In March 2025, Rivian introduced an improved version of Highway Assist, which uses 11 cameras and 5 radars for hands-free driving on 135,000 miles of roads in the US and Canada. Future versions will also allow drivers to look away from the road, approaching autonomous driving.
Problem Resolution Status
Rivian reports that 99% of the affected vehicles have already received the update released in June of this year. The remaining vehicles will be brought up to standard after the corresponding software is downloaded.
This situation highlights the importance of software reliability in modern electric vehicles, especially given their power and speed. While OTA updates allow for quick fixes, they also demonstrate how critical the proper operation of driver assistance systems is for road safety. The integration of Rivian’s technologies into future Volkswagen models may bring benefits but will also require thorough testing and quality control.