Rivian is making ready some attention-grabbing software program updates for its all-electric R1T pickup and R1S SUV, in keeping with the corporate’s head of software program growth, Wassym Bensaid.

Making a shock look on the EV startup’s name with analysts on Tuesday, Bensaid promised upgrades starting from adaptive monitoring of battery vary to a so-called “drone mode” that would come with using augmented actuality, as reported by Automotive Information through Bloomberg.

The software program chief stopped wanting providing further particulars, however an adaptive battery vary monitoring characteristic feels like one thing that will profit any EV driver on the market if it have been to supply a dependable and practical remaining mileage studying on the dashboard.

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“We consider that our software program capabilities are a structural differentiator that may solely develop in significance as electrical autos proceed to extend in complexity,” mentioned Wassym Bensaid, senior vice chairman of software program growth at Rivian.

Since launching the R1T in 2021, the California-based EV producer has pushed 22 main software program updates, Bensaid mentioned, including new options like Camp Mode, Snow Mode, and Chicken’s Eye View. One other replace noticed the introduction of the so-called Kneel Mode which makes entry and exit simpler by reducing the trip peak by about 10 inches.

“We personal the software program stack and management practically each single pc within the automobile,” he mentioned.

The agency’s head of software program spoke after Rivian advised traders it could elevate the manufacturing steerage for this 12 months to 52,000 models, up from the beforehand estimated 50,000 EVs. In the course of the name, the founder and CEO of the all-electric automobile startup, RJ Scaringe, talked up the significance of software program and electronics, saying they’d be central to the next-generation R2-based autos, the primary of which might be an SUV that may debut subsequent 12 months.

“I’d say that’s among the many most vital issues to personal in taking a look at what a structurally cost-advantaged automobile producer will appear to be on this planet of immediately,” Scaringe mentioned.

Within the second quarter, Rivian manufactured 13,992 autos and delivered 12,640 models, surpassing Wall Avenue estimates that mentioned deliveries would high out at round 11,000 EVs.

At its manufacturing unit in Regular, Illinois, the model builds the R1S SUV, R1T pickup, and the Amazon EDV. It additionally assembles the Enduro drivetrain, which was developed in-house and is fitted to the electrical van and the 2 passenger autos of their dual-motor variants.