A still from Rivian's Ghostbusters spot, directed by Gil Kenan. Screenshot: Rivian/Sony Pictures, via Ad Age on Facebook
Rivian’s Ghostbusters software goes out to every R1 and R2 over the air, and it switches itself off on November 2. Rivian’s announcement, posted October 8, gives Halloween Mode a run from October 9 through November 2, 2026, and the end card of the new Bill Murray commercial labels it a “limited time software update for Rivian owners.”
The program was built with Sony Pictures and comes in three pieces: the software, a TV spot directed by Gil Kenan (director of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and co-writer of Ghostbusters: Afterlife) with Bob Industries producing, and a set of full-size “Ecto-R1” show cars touring Rivian’s stores.
Rivian’s Ghostbusters spot, directed by Gil Kenan. Video: Rivian/Sony Pictures, via Ad Age on Facebook
Murray plays Peter Venkman. Rivian describes the spot opening on Halloween eve in a suburban house overrun by Slimer, until an Ecto-style siren outside gets his attention. The closing frame puts Venkman on a porch behind a Rivian dashboard dressed as a proton-pack control panel. Murray gets no quote in the announcement. The only executive quoted is Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid, who opens with: “Everyone remembers where they were when they saw Ghostbusters for the first time.”
What the update does
R1 owners need software version 2026.36.0 and R2 owners need 2026.36.40, plus the latest Rivian phone app. Once installed, the driver display asks whether you’d like to “hunt some ghosts” and opens a dedicated Ghostbusters app, where a single red switch turns on the themed interior lighting, audio and exterior displays. Per Rivian, the app contains:
- Lights & Sounds: presets named Ecto-1, Proton Pack, Slimer, Ghost Trap, Peter Venkman and Random, plus a Motion Mode that reacts when people walk past the parked car.
- Trick or Treat Mode: takes over the driver and rear screens, plays the Ghostbusters theme and switches the exterior lights and sounds.
- Lock sounds: Ecto-1 only on R1 Gen 1; Ecto-1, Proton Pack or Chant on R1 Gen 2 and R2.
- Scavenger hunt: clue cards point to characters hidden in Drive Modes, Gear Guard settings, the side cameras and the Energy app.
- ‘Mallow Mash: a parked-only arcade game where you pop Mini-Puft marshmallow men against the clock.
- Voice assistant: switches to an eerie voice and will run a light show, read a hunt clue or play a sound effect on request.
The lock-sound split is the only difference between vehicle generations that Rivian lists. Gen 1 R1 owners, whose trucks and SUVs predate the reworked Gen 2 R1 that went on sale in 2024, get one sound where newer cars get three. Rivian doesn’t explain why.
The assistant comes with a footnote. Rivian marks “Rivian Assistant” with a note that begins “Subscription required for Connect+,” and the announcement doesn’t say whether the ghost voice works without one.
Rivian calls Halloween costumes for its cars “a bit of an annual ritual,” and it isn’t exaggerating: there was a “Let’s Get Spooky” update in 2024 and swamp-themed “SwampCar” costumes in 2025. We covered an earlier round of Rivian’s Halloween software. It travels the same over-the-air channel that just delivered Teen Mode for the 1,025-hp Quad R1T and Waze’s speed-camera alerts. This is the first edition with a Hollywood license attached.
The Ecto-R1
Rivian’s Special Projects team fabricated the custom frame and accessory housings in-house and sourced and restored vintage emergency lights for the roof. The sirens, spotlights, radar dish and side tanks are functional, according to Rivian. The cars ride on 22-inch Aero wheels with white-painted covers and wear a red stripe along the body line, with the No-Ghost logo on the hood and front doors. The roof rack carries a Rivian “stadium” silhouette and a compass design meant to be seen from above.
The announcement never says how many Ecto-R1s exist, only that “full-scale Ecto-R1 builds” are “popping up across the country.” It doesn’t name the base vehicle either, though every photo shows an R1S and the file name of Rivian’s Ghostbusters drive-mode graphic includes “ECTO-R1S.” There’s no price and no mention of a sale. The film’s Ecto-1 started as a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance-hearse, and it’s on our list of the most famous TV and movie cars. Fan-built tributes have a way of wandering off: a Ghostbusters-themed Kia Soul went missing in Los Angeles.
Where to see one
Rivian lists retail celebrations with Ecto-R1s, limited merchandise and themed refreshments at its Laguna Beach, Austin, Venice, Miami Brickell, San Francisco and New York Meatpacking District locations, plus appearances at the NYC Village Halloween Parade and a Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt pop-up in Los Angeles. Its event page puts a date on only two items, both on October 10 and both past. The rest list times and locations with no dates.
Halloween Mode shuts off November 2, and Rivian hasn’t said whether anything stays behind, the Ecto-1 lock chirp included. Would you run Ghostbusters lock sounds on your car all year, or should costume software go back in the closet after Halloween?
Sources: Rivian, “Halloween Mode 2026” announcement and footnotes, October 8, 2026; Rivian Halloween event listings; Rivian/Sony Pictures Ghostbusters spot.
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