TL;DR
Rivian is developing Teen Mode and Valet Mode, which Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid said are slated for early 2027 across the R1T, R1S and R2. Owners would be able to set restrictions such as limiting horsepower or access to off-road modes, with settings linked to digital keys and user profiles. Rivian has not announced a release date or detailed final feature list.
Rivian is developing Teen Mode and Valet Mode for its vehicles, with both features currently slated for early 2027, Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid told The Drive. The planned controls would let owners restrict selected vehicle features for a teen or valet driver, including horsepower and access to off-road modes.
Bensaid said the features are being built around Rivian’s digital key integration and a new user profile system. Owners would be able to associate a child with a teen profile rather than relying only on the age entered when a driver registers in the app. That distinction could address a weakness in an age-based approach: a young driver might enter a different age during setup.
The planned settings would be configurable by the vehicle owner. Bensaid described categories such as limiting horsepower, restricting off-road modes and preventing changes to stability control. He said owners would choose from a group of settings rather than set a precise horsepower ceiling with a slider. The interface is expected to use on-screen sliders and toggles, which he compared with Rivian’s RAD Tuner.
Bensaid also said access restrictions would be tied to digital keys and driver profiles. A physical key or keycard could be associated with a specific profile, while changing out of a restricted profile would require a password. Valet Mode is separate and would offer options such as restricting access to the front trunk or gloveboxes. The company has not released a final list of settings.
The proposed modes would give Rivian owners a way to tailor vehicle access for people who borrow or share their vehicle. That is relevant for families because some Rivian models offer substantial power, while the company’s planned system could let an owner apply selected limits through profiles and keys. The Drive’s report points to vehicles weighing thousands of pounds and describes rapid acceleration as part of the concern behind the feature; those figures do not establish how the final mode will affect performance.
The design also places responsibility for choosing restrictions with the owner. That offers flexibility for families with drivers at different ages or experience levels, but it means the result will depend on how settings are configured and whether drivers use the profile assigned to them. Rivian has not described enforcement details beyond the planned key and password controls.
For valet users, limits on storage compartments could address privacy and access concerns when a vehicle is handed over. The feature would add configurable permissions to the handoff process, though the specific options and how they appear to drivers remain subject to Rivian’s final implementation.
Digital Keys and Driver Profiles
Rivian’s announcement follows feedback from its vehicle community, according to Bensaid. He told The Drive that the company had delayed the features because it wanted to build them around the broader framework for digital keys and user profiles. The interview describes the features as in development, rather than as software already available to owners.
The planned rollout covers the R1T pickup, R1S SUV and R2, according to The Drive. Rivian’s proposed approach links vehicle preferences to a driver profile and the key used to access the vehicle. Bensaid said owners would be able to create different profiles for children based on age or maturity, giving them control over which restrictions apply to each one.
““We got that feedback from the community. The only reason we did not get it yet is we really wanted to do it right, and it will leverage on all the framework of the digital key integration that we have.””
— Wassym Bensaid, Rivian chief software officer, speaking to The Drive
Final Settings Remain Undecided
Rivian has not published a confirmed launch date beyond the early 2027 target, or a complete feature list. The report does not specify the exact power limits available, how restrictions will affect acceleration, or whether owners can change settings remotely. It also remains unclear how the system will respond if a driver uses a different key, shares credentials or attempts to access an unrestricted profile. Bensaid described the features as being developed, so details could change before release.
Rivian’s Early 2027 Target
Rivian’s stated next milestone is a planned early 2027 rollout across the R1T, R1S and R2. The company has not given a specific date or said when it will publish the final settings and operating details. Those details will determine how owners assign profiles, configure restrictions and manage keys when the software becomes available.
Key Questions
When does Rivian plan to release Teen Mode and Valet Mode?
Rivian has slated both modes for early 2027, according to Bensaid’s interview with The Drive. No exact release date has been announced.
What could Rivian Teen Mode restrict?
Bensaid cited possible limits on horsepower and off-road modes, along with a category for stability control. The final set of controls has not been published.
How would owners assign Teen Mode?
The planned system would let an owner associate a child with a teen profile and link a physical key, keycard or digital key to a profile. Bensaid said leaving a restricted profile would require a password.
What is different about Rivian Valet Mode?
Valet Mode would be separate from Teen Mode. Bensaid said owners could set limits such as blocking access to the front trunk or gloveboxes.
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