Hi there! As an electric vehicle industry analyst, I wanted to have a conversation about an exciting new software-defined feature Rivian recently introduced for their R1T pickup and R1S SUV called Kneel Mode. This builds on their existing air suspension controls to make their trucks even more convenient and universally accessible by owners.
Let me start with an overview…
Rivian‘s new Kneel Mode feature uses their adaptive air suspension system to drop vehicles closer to the ground, easing enter/exit for passengers. It comes courtesy of an October 2022 over-the-air (OTA) software update alongside revisions enhancing navigation displays, glovebox controls and other elements of the ownership experience.
Kneel Mode complements Rivian‘s previously released Camp Mode which levels vehicles on uneven terrain for more comfortable camping. Both demonstrate the potential of Rivian‘s OTA upgrade process to unlock helpful new capabilities supplementing the R1T and R1S vehicles owners already love.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of how Kneel Mode builds on Rivian’s existing air suspension strengths…
Fine-Tuning Ride Height for Specialized Control
Rivian‘s air suspension system allows ride height adjustment between 7.9 inches and 14.4 inches to adapt for highway driving down to the most extreme off-road trails. This also enables lowering vehicles closer to the ground for certain specialized situations.
Camp Mode levels out trucks for flatter sleeping surfaces when campsites have uneven ground or side angles. Now Kneel Mode drops ride height to around 10 inches so passengers can more easily step into these higher SUVs and pickups without the usual climb.
Just the Right Amount of Kneeling for Safety
Kneel Mode brings vehicles 10 inches nearer to earth through automatic air spring deflation. Triggering it is also deliberately constrained for security.
Rivian allows Kneel Mode only while stationary, in All-Purpose drive mode, with the vehicle unlocked and powered on. Kneeling won‘t initiate during charging either. These limitations prevent unexpected ride height changes while driving that could impact control.
| Metric | Normal Height | Kneel Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Clearance | 7.9" – 14.4" | 10 inches |
| Standard Bed Height | 35 inches | 25 inches |
| Vehicle Entry Height | 35+ inches | 25 inches |
You can see in this table, owners gain a full 10 inches lower bed access and 10+ inch reduction to the first ingress step. This really opens up usability for younger passengers, shorter adults and seniors.
Family-Friendly Access for Adventure Vehicles
While Rivian‘s off-road-dominating ride height provides stability blazing trails, it leaves shorter folks and kids scaling quite the ascent. Product leader Heidi Groshelle explained Kneel Mode’s purpose:
“By lowering the vehicle closer to the ground, we have made it easier for children, pets and anyone less mobile to enter and exit the cabin and cargo area.”
So children can easier clamor into booster seats or the third row. Shorter adults reach the elevated cab without as mighty a first hurdle. For active older couples who love national parks as much as their grandkids, it saves strength over long vacations accessing the rear storage.
Air Suspension Control Complements Rivian‘s Focus
Unveiling lifestyle enhancements like Kneel Mode spotlights the brand’s lifestyle appeal and understanding of adventure-minded families. Rivian shrewdly caters to customers hauling kids or gear off-grid just as adeptly as they conquer boulders on a summit quest.
In my view as an industry analyst, rolling out such innovations displays immense commitment to customers beyond the showroom. Rivian vehicles already boast cutting-edge capabilities. But rather than resting on laurels, Rivian chose customer-pleasing convenience as their next software-powered leap.
Ownership Evolves Thanks to OTA Superpowers
Kneel Mode emerged from Rivian “listening to customers and then developing features to improve their ownership experience” using flexibility of OTA upgrades. This agile delivery mechanism permits new features faster than waiting on model year changes from conventional automakers.
Rivian vehicles gain abilities over time rather than staying fixed as older-school cars. Expert reviews praise OTA updates as a "revolutionary way of introducing new vehicle features without having to wait for a new model year.”
By wielding OTA powers for good alongside customer-focused design, Rivian seems poised to keep surprising and delighting owners rather than just selling them adventure trucks.
I hope all these extra details give you a better feel for how Kneel Mode builds on Rivian‘s air suspension strengths! Let me know if you have any other questions.
