Rivian Has Announced New Pet Cam for R2 Vehicles

The upcoming feature allows owners to monitor pets in the vehicle through a dedicated smartphone app.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Rivian Has Announced New Pet Cam for R2 Vehicles

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Do you trust remote vehicle camera monitoring features to prioritize your personal privacy?

Rivian has unveiled a new Pet Cam feature designed for its R2 electric vehicle that transmits live video and interior snapshots to the owner's smartphone. The functionality operates only when Pet Comfort Mode is active and includes privacy safeguards.

Why it matters

This feature provides pet owners with a reliable way to monitor their animals while they are inside the vehicle. The inclusion of automated human-detection technology addresses privacy concerns regarding potential domestic surveillance.

The Pet Cam utilizes an RGB camera embedded within the central rear-view mirror to capture footage. The system is currently absent from software version 2026.31.40.

The players

Rivian

The American automotive manufacturer specializes in electric adventure vehicles and sustainable transportation technology.

The details

The system automatically deactivates its camera functionality if it detects a human presence within the cabin to protect occupant privacy. While the R2 supports these capabilities, the feature is incompatible with R1S and R1T models because they utilize infrared cameras that cannot provide color live streaming.

Software version 2026.31.40 was released in 2026.
The Pet Cam feature is slated for a future over-the-air software update.

Roadmap

This development reflects the broader automotive industry shift toward integrating software-defined cabin features that enhance vehicle utility beyond transportation. By prioritizing connectivity between the car and the smartphone app, automakers are increasingly competing on personalized convenience.

R2 owners can look forward to increased peace of mind when traveling with pets by utilizing the remote monitoring capabilities. Owners of R1S and R1T models will not receive this functionality due to existing hardware limitations.

The takeaway

Vehicle software updates allow manufacturers to introduce new capabilities long after a car has been purchased. Owners should verify their vehicle hardware compatibility before expecting new features to arrive via future over-the-air updates.