Rivian demonstrates the R1 T's features, including Gear Guard

Rivian personnel describe the R1video T's surveillance system in the video below, which employs five of the truck's built-in cameras to record a 360-degree view if it senses that someone is less than a foot away. These movies are saved in the truck's internal storage, where you may watch them later to see who was tampering with your truck and what they were up to.

Automatically recorded movies are destroyed after "a few days," according to the R1T owner's instructions, although you can star specific films to save them or back them up onto a USB-C drive. The manual also explains what causes the truck's alarm to go off and you to receive a notification from the Rivian app, such as when the vehicle is tilted, the door is unlocked, or something moves in the cabin.

When I first got to play with the R1T last year, I was able to view some of the system's recorded footage, which appeared to be of sufficient quality for a security system.

The R1T, like Tesla's Sentry Mode, will flash something on the infotainment screen to let customers know they're being recorded. Unlike Tesla, who has a frightening red eye, Rivian has gone for something a little friendlier: a Sasquatch or Yeti-like creature with a puffy vest and headgear, wielding what appears to be a film camera. It's described as "pleasant" and "playful" by one individual in the video, while another claims it demonstrates how Gear Guard isn't an aggressive system. Ford's commercial video for its Canopy aftermarket security system with ADT, which features a construction worker scaring away a would-be robber and police cars, is a stark contrast.

While I believe the film focuses a little too much on the Gear Guard mascot's charming element, it does appear to be a legitimate admission that not everyone approaching the truck is attempting to steal stuff. Some folks simply enjoy looking at the latest electric vehicles.

Rivian also uses the movie to demonstrate its Gear Guard cable, which can be used to secure bikes and other gear on the truck's roof rack or in the bed. When you lock the doors, the cable hooks into a port in the bed, which locks it in place.

While most trucks have connection points that allow you to do this with a regular bike lock, having an integrated system is more handy (and may deter folks from using the "put it in the bed and hope for the best" method, which I've been guilty of). Anyone touching your locked-down belongings should be recorded if the Gear Guard video system is activated – one of the cameras has a view of the bed.

It's fascinating to learn more about these features and how they were created. It's worth noting, though, that they won't be included with every Rivian vehicle. Gear Guard is listed as a feature of the Adventure trim, which starts at $73,000, but not the $67,500 Explore model, according to the R1product T's page. Rivian spokesperson Bill Utaegbulam confirmed to The Verge in an email that the system, which includes cable, video monitoring, and an alarm, is only available on higher-end trims, and that "currently there is no offer to upgrade post-purchase" for the Explore model.