Key fob no longer standard?

[jjswan33]

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/new-2025-rivian-r1s-r1t-wont-have-physical-key-fob-for-now.html

This is the first I am hearing about this.. I know many don't use these physical keys but I do so this is disappointing.

What I am getting in my next Rivian still feels like a moving target which is frustrating having placed a non-refundable deposit.

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[NY_Rob]

Simple cost-cutting.

New owners need to complain, that's pretty much all they can do. At least we know the vehicles can use a fob, so if/when Rivian makes them available those who want one can purchase one, same as Tesla has done for years now.

 

[eskudo12791]

I didn't mind having no physical key for my Tesla M3. Good part with Tesla though is blank key cards are cheap and your vehicle can write/ authorize new ones.

 

[SANZC02]

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/new-2025-rivian-r1s-r1t-wont-have-physical-key-fob-for-now.html

This is the first I am hearing about this.. I know many don't use these physical keys but I do so this is disappointing.

What I am getting in my next Rivian still feels like a moving target which is frustrating having placed a non-refundable deposit.

I heard that before, was not really surprised with the new ultra-wideband there will be so many options most people would not probably use the fobs.

The fobs on my G1 rarely leaves the house, I should have waited awhile before I purchased a second one, if I had I would have saved the money.

This was from Rivian Tracker a couple of months ago:

Rivian has confirmed that the second generation of R1 vehicles will include ultra-wideband technology or UWB. Rivian owners can use car keys in Apple Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch, or with select Google Pixel devices, to unlock and start up their vehicles seamlessly and even share keys digitally with family and friends.

UWB will not be coming to Gen 1 vehicles due to hardware limitations.

What is Ultra-Wideband Technology?
Ultra Wideband is a short-range, wireless communication protocol that uses radio waves like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. However, it drastically improves similar radio technologies’ application possibilities and security levels. The technology is not new and is used mostly for advanced medical devices and other professional uses. But thanks to its recent addition to regular everyday devices like mobile phones and, not least, cars, it will now become more broadly available for end users. Uses vary, but car owners will primarily benefit from UWB’s highly accurate and precise localization capabilities.

 

[Riviaenz]

Having owned our Rivian a year now and before that having used just an RFID tag for our prior car this just seems like the right decision. With PAAK you always have your key - except at home where I find myself walking to the car and realize I don’t have my phone on me… but then Siri comes in handy and I just speak out “Siri unlock my car” and it’s unlocked for me, or the kids or for what ever other reason I need to have it unlocked. It’s one less thing to have in my pocket and as a backup we each keep a key card in our wallets for the rare time I might need to hand someone a key or even rarer time my phone battery dies (only once in the last year during road trip, got photo/video recording happy).

The fob has been safely kept in storage with all our other car fobs we don’t use.

You’ll come around once you get one or any other car that doesn’t require a fob for regular use.

 

[tps5352]

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/new-2025-rivian-r1s-r1t-wont-have-physical-key-fob-for-now.html

This is the first I am hearing about this.. I know many don't use these physical keys but I do so this is disappointing.

What I am getting in my next Rivian still feels like a moving target which is frustrating having placed a non-refundable deposit.

Simple cost-cutting...same as Tesla has done for years now.

Yes, I can empathize. I bought my new Tesla in 2021 and was disappointed not to get certain "freebies" that I had heard about. Heck, early Tesla customers used to get a party with cake and noisemakers. Seriously, here is a table I made to show what accessories and features Tesla cars came with up to 2021.

Something like this could be done for Rivian, so that we don't forget...

I took a recent demo drive in a 2024 R1S. (I am planning likely purchase of an R1S in 2025.) I was told by the staff person that the 2025 would not come with a fob, but that they could be purchased separately. That is what Tesla is doing.

I am old-school. I will have and use the App. But I want a fob, darn-it.

*****​

One thing I have noticed: Rivian accessories (like fobs and charging equipment) generally appear to be more expensive than the equivalent Tesla item. (And I thought that Tesla prices were high!) I guess that is because Rivian is still a relatively young company with car models that were recently released. I assume that the customer base is still relatively small (though growing yearly). And finances are still in that delicate "early stage." So Rivian has to charge more for parts and accessories, since I read that it is still not making a profit on consumer cars sales exclusively. Tesla dropped prices (of things like charge accessories) eventually. Maybe Rivian will too after sales of the R2 and R3 take off?

 

[f1racer328]

The only time I used my keyfob has been for service...

Phone key has been 100% reliable for me, I also carry a key card if I'm going out of town.

 

[R1Sky Business]

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/new-2025-rivian-r1s-r1t-wont-have-physical-key-fob-for-now.html

This is the first I am hearing about this.. I know many don't use these physical keys but I do so this is disappointing.

What I am getting in my next Rivian still feels like a moving target which is frustrating having placed a non-refundable deposit.

Munro

 

[Kurt]

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/new-2025-rivian-r1s-r1t-wont-have-physical-key-fob-for-now.html

This is the first I am hearing about this.. I know many don't use these physical keys but I do so this is disappointing.

What I am getting in my next Rivian still feels like a moving target which is frustrating having placed a non-refundable deposit.

As a long time Tesla driver I had the same withdrawal symptoms.....Im old and I use keys or key fobs.....but, times are changing and keys and fobs are almost a thing of the past. Tesla did away with fobs about 2 years ago, and now Rivian is following suit. Next thing is probably going to be a chip.....you get it injected and never have to worry about forgetting your key card again!!

 

[jjswan33]

As a long time Tesla driver I had the same withdrawal symptoms.....Im old and I use keys or key fobs.....but, times are changing and keys and fobs are almost a thing of the past. Tesla did away with fobs about 2 years ago, and now Rivian is following suit. Next thing is probably going to be a chip.....you get it injected and never have to worry about forgetting your key card again!!

To be fair just cause Tesla did something doesn't mean Rivian should follow... Didn't RJ say that everyone shouldn't just copy Tesla.. and recently?

To part of my point to all of you saying this makes sense. I placed a non-refundable deposit on a $100k truck expecting it to have certain features based on documentation at the time but that appears to be changing over time... I wonder what the next surprise will be.

 

[Riviot]

In 2.333 years and 50k miles I've used my fob 99.9% of the time, clipping/unclipping from my belt loop every day. PAAK security/reliability issues turned me off and my watch only tells the time, in fact had to ask the wife to turn hers off as it set off the alarm multiple times. The other .1% is grabbing the key card from my <insert super secret hiding spot here> to move the truck from the garage when I'm working there and the key is inside.

 

[lefkonj]

While I never use the key it is essential. When I drop it off for service or when mobile service has come to my house. I also ensure my wife has it in her purse when we travel, in case my phone dies.

I know we can use the cards for this but one of mine stopped working, of course it was the one in my wallet so that sucked.

 

[iforbes]

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/new-2025-rivian-r1s-r1t-wont-have-physical-key-fob-for-now.html

This is the first I am hearing about this.. I know many don't use these physical keys but I do so this is disappointing.

What I am getting in my next Rivian still feels like a moving target which is frustrating having placed a non-refundable deposit.

Might be the first YOU heard of it but it was pretty much announced with the refresh.

A vast majority of people do not use it. For those that do, buy one. Other option, go online and whine about it.

 

[beatle]

I've been trying to convert myself into a PaaK person, but every time I go out to the truck and I have to dig my phone out to start the app to open the doors, I grit my teeth and think "not today." It can also be nice to have the fob in my pocket and tap the frunk button as I approach so I can just put things in when I get there. I know, not a big deal, but kind of neat.

 

[jemkewl]

99.9% FOB person here as well. I reach in to pocket and push or double push the button I need for what I need opened. No need to get out a phone, unlock it, launch an app, look at a screen, find a button and wait.

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