Google Cast and other Christmas goodies for Rivian

Google Cast and YouTube are what you need when your vehicle must become a place of refuge from holiday traffic or scheduling stress.

We all know that peak season brings with it terrific traffic challenges. And those agonizing waiting periods while family, friends or in-laws dwell at the store or local eatery, collecting an order.

Google Cast comes onboard

Rivian’s solution is creating a more comprehensive automotive infotainment experience, especially when you’re parked. How? With Google Cast and the native YouTube app. These promise an excellent streaming media and enhanced infotainment experience inside your Rivian.

The native YouTube app is optimized for large in-car infotainment screens, while Google Cast enlivens your Rivian’s infotainment experience with 3000 apps’ worth of functionality while you’re parked and waiting.

Adding to its festive season infotainment cheer is a graphic update when ‘snow’ mode is selected on the drivetrain UX. The result? A winter wonderland-type environment surrounding your graphically superimposed Rivian, on the in-cab infotainment screen.

There are acoustic updates, too. Like a holiday jingle confirmation sound when locking doors and some festive light animation themes.

The ‘key’ for backcountry adventurers

Beyond Rivian’s digital and infotainment upgrades released in time for your Christmas and New Year’s road-tripping, there’s a neat physical upgrade, too.

Rivian owners of Gen 2 vehicles can now purchase an ergonomically designed physical key, complementing the existing Smartphone and keycard vehicle access options.

For a brand targeting adventure-oriented customers, key security is important. There’s nothing worse than having a digital device break during a fall on your mountain bike outride, hike, or canyon-exploring journey. And then being unable to unlock and start your vehicle.

Festive season features from Rivian

Having a physical back-up key is a great solution, and Rivian’s industrial designers have thought about the ergonomics of this key and its purpose. With NFC contact signalling, you can also unlock your Rivian with the new key fob, even if it has a completely drained battery.

Configured for Rivians that are the 2025 model year or newer, this new key fob features an integrated clip-ring to attach to your belt, or lightweight daypack. That ensures it doesn’t accidentally fall out of pocket while exploring outdoors or cruising around a lakeshore or waterfront venue.

From Google Cast enriching your infotainment experience during this holiday season to better vehicle key redundancy, Rivian’s got what you need to make this holiday season entertainingly connected.