Rivian Taps Ghostbusters for Its 2026 Halloween Software Update

Rivian is keeping its October tradition alive with a fresh batch of seasonal in-car software, and this year the automaker has gone straight to the paranormal comedy canon. The 2026 Halloween drop dresses the company’s electric trucks and SUVs in a Ghostbusters theme, following past nods to Knight Rider and Back to the Future in 2024 and a Swamp Thing treatment last year.

The package is largely cosmetic but broad in reach. Owners can toggle new light animations, sound effects, and a spookier tone for the vehicle’s voice assistant, all controlled from Rivian’s mobile app. Two interactive extras round things out: a scavenger hunt that hides characters throughout the on-screen interface, and a Ghostbusters-inspired game playable on the center display while the vehicle is parked.

The theming extends beyond the cabin. Rivian’s phone and smartwatch apps pick up matching visuals, and the company’s own charging stations show related content on their built-in screens, turning a routine charging stop into part of the seasonal experience.

As a centerpiece, Rivian built a one-off ECTO-R1, transforming an R1S into a tribute to the film’s iconic Ectomobile — itself originally a 1959 Cadillac loaded with fictional scientific gear on the roof. The Ecto-R1 stars in a short Halloween spot featuring Bill Murray, echoing the brand’s earlier use of David Hasselhoff for its Knight Rider tie-in.

Rollout arrives as software 2026.36.0 on the R1 platform and 2026.36.40 on the R2. Halloween mode stays live only from October 9 through November 2, so owners hoping to show off the theme at seasonal gatherings have a narrow window to enable it before it disappears until next fall.