For those eagerly anticipating delivery of their brand-new, refreshed 2025 Rivian R1T trucks or R1S SUVs, there’s a surprising detail that might require a slight adjustment to expectations: your new electric vehicle won’t come with a traditional physical key fob right out of the gate. Reports emerging from Reddit and various Rivian owner forums indicate that instead of the familiar fob, new owners are being provided with card keys and guided through the process of setting up their smartphones as digital keys to access and operate their vehicles.
Upon discovering the absence of a physical key fob, one owner reportedly contacted a Rivian representative and received confirmation that this is indeed the current situation. The official response indicated, “The vehicles do not come with a key fob. However, these will be available to purchase in the Rivian Gears Shop at a later date.”
A Premium EV Experience, Minus the Key Fob?
While the good news is that the omission of the physical key fob appears to be temporary, the situation does raise eyebrows, especially considering the price point of these premium electric vehicles. With a starting MSRP of $69,900 for the R1T and $75,900 for the R1S, the expectation of a standard key fob is certainly reasonable for most buyers. Having to purchase what was once considered a standard and relatively inexpensive car accessory separately can feel like an unexpected additional cost, even if the fob itself isn’t exorbitantly priced.
This isn’t the first time Rivian has opted for a phased rollout of features or accessories. The much-anticipated Camp Kitchen for the R1T faced delays back in 2022 and is now being reimagined as the Travel Kitchen, with a different design and mounting system.
The Travel Kitchen, according to SlashGear, will no longer be integrated into the Gear Tunnel, potentially impacting the appeal of the redesigned accessory for those who were drawn to the original concept. However, this change does broaden compatibility with other Rivian models, including the forthcoming R2 and R3.
Speculation suggests that the delay in providing physical key fobs for the 2025 R1T and R1S models might be linked to improvements in their design and functionality. First-generation Rivian owners have reported issues with the original key fobs, particularly concerning rapid battery depletion. Delaying the inclusion of fobs with initial deliveries could allow Rivian to refine the design and address these earlier issues before making them widely available for purchase.
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](/video/2025-rivian-r1s-suv-first-drive-review-a-1000-hp-monster-suv/) Related
2025 Rivian R1S SUV: A 1,000 Horsepower Monster SUV
The 2025 Rivian R1S and R1T boast impressive performance upgrades, including a tri-motor configuration exceeding 800 horsepower and a quad-motor variant delivering over 1,000 horsepower.
Rivian’s Customer Satisfaction and Future Outlook
Despite facing typical challenges encountered by EV startups and experiencing delays with certain features, Rivian has consistently demonstrated progress and garnered positive feedback from owners. Notably, Rivian has even surpassed Porsche in J.D. Power owner satisfaction surveys, indicating a strong level of customer contentment.
A significant $5 billion investment from Volkswagen further strengthens Rivian’s position and provides substantial resources for technological advancements and the accelerated development of more affordable models like the R2 and R3, which are highly anticipated in the EV market. In the interim, the updated 2025 R1T and R1S models represent significant improvements over their predecessors.
However, the initial absence of a physical key fob and reliance on digital alternatives might present minor inconveniences for some owners, particularly in situations where smartphone functionality is limited due to battery drain or lack of cellular signal. Whether this temporary omission is a significant drawback or a minor hiccup in the ownership experience is ultimately a matter of personal preference and individual circumstances for each Rivian buyer.
Sources: Reddit, J.D. Power, SlashGear
