Rivian Will Charge You for Additional Power and Range That Your EV Already Possesses | Carscoops

      Owners of certain Rivian models will soon be able to enhance their vehicles' power or battery capacity.

      Rivian is preparing to release a software update that will increase performance and range.

      These paid features will be exclusively available for second-generation R1T and R1S models.

      The improvements are set to be included in the 2025.06 software update for eligible vehicles.

      Rivian is fulfilling a promise made to Carscoops several months ago. During a discussion in California, the company hinted at forthcoming unlockable features. Now, it's confirmed that extra power will be the first of these features in the 2025.06 update. Additionally, this year, owners with the Large+ battery pack will have the opportunity to unlock additional range.

      Power Upgrade for a Fee

      Rivian specifies that these unlockable features will only apply to second-gen R1 owners. Currently, purchasers of these newer electric vehicles can opt for the Performance Pack for their Dual Motor trim at a price of $5,000. This package boosts the power from 533 horsepower (397 kW) and 610 lb-ft (826 Nm) of torque to 665 horsepower (495 kW) and 829 lb-ft (1122 Nm) of torque. It also introduces two new driving modes: Sport and Soft Sand.

      The automaker will soon make this upgrade the first available unlock with the 2025.06 software version. While the cost of the upgrade within the system hasn't been disclosed, it’s possible that Rivian will provide various payment options, including a one-time fee, subscription model, or trial period.

      Additional Range Coming Soon

      Buyers who chose the Large+ Battery Pack will likely encounter a similar situation later this year. Wassym Bensaid mentioned on his X account that the extra range will be the next unlockable feature following the Performance Pack upgrade. Rivian's Large+ battery pack is equivalent to its Max pack but is limited by software for lower range.

      Your feedback indicated that the Dual Performance upgrade for your Rivian will be available through OTA updates, launching soon with the 2025.06 update. You can also utilize Rivian Rewards! pic.twitter.com/f3C6xO9Bdp

      — Wassym Bensaid (@WassymBensaid) February 28, 2025

      Next up on the agenda! 😉— Wassym Bensaid (@WassymBensaid) March 1, 2025

      A Growing Industry Trend

      Rivian isn’t the first car manufacturer to explore paid software unlocks. Tesla and Mercedes have already implemented similar options, allowing customers to pay for performance enhancements or additional features that are technically already present in the vehicles.

      In theory, these unlocks enable automakers to simplify production. Manufacturing one vehicle with dual capabilities can be more cost-effective than producing separate models. However, some argue that if a vehicle can perform certain functions, those should be available to the consumer without additional charges.

      What’s your opinion on this issue? Share your thoughts in the comments.