Rivian Ghostbusters Update Turns R1, R2 Into Ecto-1 Tributes
Rivian flipped the switch today on a free over-the-air update that turns every R1T, R1S, and R2 into a rolling Ghostbusters tribute, and this is not a token Halloween gimmick. It is a full software takeover: synced exterior light shows, an in-car Ghostbusters app, custom lock sounds, a spooked-out voice assistant, and a Bill Murray commercial reprising his Dr. Peter Venkman role to sell the whole thing.
Rivian also built a full-scale R1S replica of the Ecto-1, dubbed the Ecto-R1, complete with restored original movie emergency lights, a working radar dish, and a roof rack of ghost-hunting gear built in-house by the company’s Special Projects team. It’s on display now at five Rivian retail locations, and it’s the clearest sign yet that automakers see software, not just sheet metal, as the place to build a car’s personality.
What The Ghostbusters OTA Actually Unlocks
The update, done in partnership with Sony Pictures, is live from October 9 through November 2. To get it, R1 owners need vehicle software version 2026.36.0, while R2 owners need 2026.36.40, plus the latest Rivian mobile app. Once installed, the driver display asks if you’d like to “hunt some ghosts,” which opens a dedicated Ghostbusters app styled like a retro 1980s control panel.
Flip the app’s big red toggle and the car syncs interior lighting, themed audio, and exterior light shows. Owners pick from Ecto-1, Proton Pack, Slimer, Ghost Trap, Peter Venkman, or Random modes, each pairing a custom LED sequence with a matching sound effect pulled straight from the film. Motion Mode lets the vehicle react on its own when someone walks past, turning a parked R1 into a motion-activated Halloween decoration. Custom lock sounds are part of the package too: first-gen R1 trucks get the Ecto-1 siren, while second-gen R1s and the R2 can choose between the siren, a proton pack blast, or the Ghostbusters chant.
Trick Or Treat Mode, Scavenger Hunts, And A Marshmallow Arcade Game
Inside the cabin, the theme runs deeper than lights and sounds. Trick or Treat Mode takes over the driver and rear displays, blasting the Ghostbusters theme song while the instrument cluster switches to a vintage dashboard graphic with blinking electrical surges. A Scavenger Hunt hides interactive characters like Ghost Guard and Slimer inside everyday screens, including Drive Modes, Gear Guard, and the Energy app, each triggering its own animation when found. Parked owners can also play ‘Mallow Mash, a center-screen arcade game where you pop Mini-Pufts marshmallow men against the clock.
Even Rivian’s voice assistant gets in character, picking up an eerie tone for the season and responding to prompts to run a light show, read a scavenger hunt clue, or fire off a sound effect. It’s a notable step up from Rivian’s past Halloween costumes, which included Knight Rider and Back to the Future tie-ins, and shows the company treating these seasonal drops as a real feature pipeline rather than a one-off stunt.
Bill Murray And The Ecto-R1 Make It Feel Real
The marketing push leans entirely on Bill Murray, who suits back up as Venkman in a spot directed by Gil Kenan, the co-writer of Ghostbusters: Afterlife and director of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Slimer shows up too, raiding a fridge before getting trapped. It’s the kind of crossover that works because Rivian actually built the hardware to back it up.
The Ecto-R1 rides on 22-inch wheels with white covers, wears a No-Ghost logo on the hood and doors, and carries a roof rack loaded with sirens, a radar dish, spotlights, and side tanks. The emergency lights are original pieces from the 1984 movie car, sourced and restored for the build. Six of these replicas now sit at Rivian retail spaces in Laguna Beach, Austin, Miami Brickell, San Francisco, and New York City’s Meatpacking District, with some locations hosting Halloween parties featuring limited-edition merch and themed drinks. For an EV brand still proving it can build a identity beyond spec sheets, pairing a real Ecto-1 homage with a software update that lets every owner’s car feel like part of the joke is a smart way to do it.
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