Rivian confirms owners can cut all vehicle internet to stop data leaving the car
Disabling connectivity prevents data from exiting the vehicle but requires a service appointment for most markets and sacrifices navigation and over-the-air updates
Rivian has confirmed that vehicle owners possess the ability to disable all internet connectivity on their vehicles, a move designed to prevent data from leaving the car. This confirmation addresses growing interest in data privacy among EV owners who wish to control how their vehicle communicates with external networks.
The procedure for disabling this connectivity varies significantly by region. For Canadian models, the process is straightforward, achieved via a toggle located within the "Data and Privacy" settings menu. However, for non-Canadian vehicles, owners must contact Rivian Service to request that the eSIM card be disabled during a scheduled service appointment.
Turning off the vehicle's internet connection carries immediate functional consequences. Disabling connectivity will limit or disable key features such as navigation, lane keeping assistance, and over-the-air updates. These updates are essential for delivering new features, performance improvements, safety enhancements, and bug fixes, meaning owners who opt out of connectivity may miss critical software improvements.
Rivian notes that this action does not automatically cancel existing subscriptions, such as Connect+. While the vehicle cannot transmit data externally, any active subscriptions remain in force and must be cancelled separately by the owner if they wish to terminate them.
The electric vehicle manufacturer describes vehicle connectivity as a core feature of its vehicles, highlighting the trade-off between privacy and functionality. By disabling the connection, owners gain control over data leaving the vehicle but sacrifice the seamless integration of cloud-based services that modern electric vehicles rely upon for navigation and safety systems.
Owners relying on over-the-air updates for safety enhancements or bug fixes will lose access to these features if they proceed with disabling connectivity. This decision requires careful consideration, particularly given that lane keeping assistance may be reduced or disabled when the vehicle is not connected to the internet.
