Rivian patent filings hint at a deployable rear diffuser, on screen ‘gadgets,’ and new architecture

American EV automaker Rivian submitted a slew of patent applications with the USPTO this week, including a deployable rear diffuser mechanism to adjust a vehicle’s drag and some software systems related to infotainment, navigation, and video playback.

Okay, with Rivian news like this (on a Friday afternoon no less), we just want to dig right into to the juicy, patent-clad details. And we will… but first, we have to have the olbigatory conversation around patents and patent filings.

Just because it was submitted to the USPTO does not mean it will EVER come to fruition. Automakers like Rivian submit hundreds of patent applications to protect potential IP. For example, we’ve covered patent filings for Rivian’s revamped Camp Kitchen, and “Front Dig Mode,” among other rumored tech.

Many of these designs will never be more spotlighted than those submitted patent pages or our ensuing coverage. That said, this round could be different! This week, Rivian submitted several patent applications to the USPTO alongside some cool images. Let’s start with the deployable diffuser.

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Breaking down Rivian’s latest patent filings

The image above is from patent application US 12,420,876 В2, submitted by Rivian on September 23, 2025. It describes a rear diffuser that can automatically deploy from the rear of a vehicle and use sensors to adjust itself and affect drag. Per the patent filing’s abstract:

The system can include a diffuser disposed at a rear of a vehicle. A side of the diffuser can be positioned to face the earth. The system can include an actuator coupled with the diffuser and configured to deploy the diffuser to adjust drag on the vehicle. The system can include a sensor configured to detect an obstacle. The system can include one or more processors that are in communication with the sensor and the actuator. The one or more processors can be configured to identify a mode of operation of the vehicle. The one or more processors can be configured to determine, based on input from the sensor and the mode of operation, a position to which to move the diffuser. The one or more processors can be configured to transmit a command to the actuator to move the diffuser to the position.

On September 25, 2025, Rivian submitted three additional patent applications, including software detailed in US 2025/0297863 A1 that enables real-time contextual feedback to Rivian’s navigation system. As you can see in the images above, the software enables users to tap through a series of menus to report issues with a given route. In the example above, the desired destination was in the wrong location (fig. 48).

The system then acknowledges that submitted feedback, so it hopefully doesn’t happen to the next driver using that route (fig. 49). Additionally, the patent describes grades for a charger session on an A to F scale, which drivers can submit in real-time following a visit.

Rivian also filed US 2025/0296443 A1, which showcases a “Visual Gadget Management System” or VGMS for short. The system focuses on video playback and metadata displays on the infotainment screen. Per the patent, the system allows metadata to be captured alongside video footage from the Rivian vehicle’s cameras in the form of an MP4, meaning owners can access coinciding drive data metrics tied to the vehicle during the recording.

From the image above, it appears that Rivian owners would be able to customize what “gadgets” they want on display, similar to widgets on iOS. The featured image of El Capitan also comes from the same Rivian patent filing, hinting that the system could act as a sort of tour guide in real-time by displaying landmarks and other data metrics on the infotainment screen.

Last but not least, Rivian submitted a third patent application for a BEV architecture design without any low-voltage batteries. This would alleviate the need for an EV’s 12V battery to power specific modules—dated tech that has affected the ability of several EVs across multiple brands to start up effectively. I drive an R1S and recently had my 12V battery replaced due to a recall. This design (which is far too complex and filled with jargon for me to grasp fully) would alleviate that reliance.

That’s all for now. Do with that information what you will, but take it with a grain of salt. At the very least, it’s cool to dream about, and if Rivian does enact one of these patents into its EVs, you’ll be able to say you remember when you first heard about it.

If you haven’t ridden in a Rivian yet, I highly recommend you do so, so you can understand what we’re talking about. Schedule a test drive today.