Rivian CEO Doubles Down on Decision to Not Offer Apple CarPlay

[codewrangler]

Guess I'm never buying a Rivian...

 

[justanotherdave]

I spent 10 years at BMW dealing with software and electronic systems.

It’s trivially easy to integrate CarPlay into your vehicle. So easy the Asian manufacturers can sell you a $100 screen with CarPlay built-in to add it to older vehicles. It’s just a glorified screen casting technology.

This is nothing to do with wanting the system to work the way they like or integrate better to the vehicle. It’s only about two things:

- Revenues from subscriptions.
- Mining your data.

 

[HadrianQ]

Engaging in this kinda statement, they aren’t a serious contender. At this point, thinking you have somekinda fresh take on the car entertainment front; while there are so many more fruitful technical hurdles is conquer, it’s just like “reinventing the wheel”

 

[skiguy45]

I use CarPlay for all of this stuff on a nearly daily basis. I can't image not having it in my car, and will never own a car without it:
• Navigate to recent locations that I searched for on my phone.
• Navigate to locations in upcoming calendar events.
• Navigate to a friend's current location.
• Be notified about upcoming police activity on the road.
• Use Waze if I want to.
• Have full access to my Apple Music library via voice control.
• Play my recent podcasts, and keep them in sync with podcasts on my phone.
• Send and receive messages easily using my voice.
• Hear about my upcoming calendar events.
• Create new calendar events.
• Create reminders while driving.
• See an indicator on the screen that shows that my garage door is closed (for my OCD about closing the door.)
• Have the same user interface that I'm used to in my other vehicles and rental cars.

Perfect example of the fact CarPlay is about interfacing with your phone, not about using apps.

The "well, we have a better native version of maps, spotify, and youtube" argument is a red herring.

Make no mistake though ... this is all about Rivian selling you a service.

 

[Radeon85]

Any manufacturer that doesn't offer CarPlay or even Android Auto can sod off.

 

[turbineseaplane]

GM’s move to drop CarPlay/Android Auto in EVs shows how control and safety narratives drive these decisions, even when it angers buyers.

It's not a safety thing.

It's solely about trying to create a new subscription revenue stream, particularly once a car moves to owners past the initial purchaser.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'm amazed that folks are "all in" on giving all your data to your car.
These same car manufacturers have already been found out selling our data to insurance companies.

You want to give them even MORE of your usage and habits data? -- which they ABSOLUTELY will monetize.

This should be the antithesis of anything an Apple fan would be in favor of.

 

[twolf2919]

Unpopular take: I think there’s a streak of entitlement among iPhone users who demand CarPlay be universal, as if automakers owe Apple their dashboards. Automakers are right to protect their platforms, data, safety approach, and subscription roadmaps; GM’s move to drop CarPlay/Android Auto in EVs shows how control and safety narratives drive these decisions, even when it angers buyers. If Apple truly wanted mass-market control over in-car software, it would own the stack—but Apple canceled its decade-long car effort, and CarPlay’s next-gen push has met resistance from major brands, which underlines why manufacturers won’t just hand over the UI to Cupertino

And the award for completely missing the point goes to......
Maybe if it helps you understand better, substitute the words "Android Auto" wherever you see "CarPlay". The point remains the same: people have all their stuff already on their smartphones - so car manufacturers who want to sell cars should give people the option of accessing *all* the stuff on their phones while they're in the car! Car manufacturers should stop re-inventing the friggin' wheel by re-implementing apps and functionality that already exists on peoples' smartphones. But Rivian and others want that subscription revenue they can collect if they keep those smartphone car apps out of their cars.

 

[CatInABox]

Plus 1 from me on the ‘no CarPlay, not that car’ front.

 

[jz0309]

Unpopular take: I think there’s a streak of entitlement among iPhone users who demand CarPlay be universal, as if automakers owe Apple their dashboards. Automakers are right to protect their platforms, data, safety approach, and subscription roadmaps; GM’s move to drop CarPlay/Android Auto in EVs shows how control and safety narratives drive these decisions, even when it angers buyers. If Apple truly wanted mass-market control over in-car software, it would own the stack—but Apple canceled its decade-long car effort, and CarPlay’s next-gen push has met resistance from major brands, which underlines why manufacturers won’t just hand over the UI to Cupertino

if safety had anything to do with GMs decision to disable CarPlay - why only EVs but not ICE vehicles????
GM did this purely for new/addl revenue from subscriptions ...

 

[everybodylovesramen]

data harvesting is in vogue now.

 

[k1121j]

This is an under-appreciated point. For people who have to rent a lot of cars (because they travel for work, for example) and more likely than not end up with a different brand and model every week, it really really really sucks having to get used to yet another system every time. With Carplay/AA, you are able to use what you already know. At the end of the day, it's almost a safety consideration as well, I really want the tourist in his rental to focus on the frigging road instead of playing around with the system trying to figure everything out (I live in a tourist destination and it's already bad enough).

Not implementing Carplay/AA at this point is shortsighted and arrogant.

Every time on on vacation I realize how glad I have my phone with my addresses and contacts input ready to go. I make sure now all my rentals have CarPlay.

Car makers forget by blocking CarPlay and Android auto it’s a disservice to the driver. They are only concerned about their bottom line and I hope people vote with their wallets.

 

[MilaM]

But Rivian and others want that subscription revenue they can collect if they keep those smartphone car apps out of their cars.

Off course they do. The same way Apple wants to control your data for their benefit.

 

[turbineseaplane]

data harvesting is in vogue now.

The most succinct and accurate take in the whole thread.

It's all about harvesting and making money off your data ... and charging you a subscription while doing it!

 

[PowermacG5]

On the latest episode of The Verge's Decoder podcast, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe told guest host Joanna Stern why the EV maker continues to pass on Apple's CarPlay — both the standard version and the more advanced CarPlay Ultra.

Echoing his previous comments on the matter, Scaringe said Rivian is focused on offering a "seamless digital experience," where customers do not need to switch between its own software and CarPlay. Instead, he said Rivian prefers to provide an à-la-carte selection of built-in apps, such as Apple Music, Google Maps, Spotify, and YouTube.

Scaringe said he is "very confident" in Rivian's decision to skip CarPlay, especially as it plans to integrate AI into its vehicles over the next 18 months. For example, he said Rivian is planning a native AI-powered voice-to-text feature for messaging.

"We're really convicted on this," he said.

Nevertheless, Scaringe acknowledged that some customers will not purchase a Rivian given the lack of CarPlay. "We accept that," he said.

"Some of those decisions not everyone's going to agree with," he said. "That's okay."

​

Article Link: Rivian CEO Doubles Down on Decision to Not Offer Apple CarPlay

Completely support this given the EV company creates software that works just as well or better than CarPlay. My opinion is Ford and GM dont want to lead in software space so let Apple and Google do it.

 

[Nom4d]

if safety had anything to do with GMs decision to disable CarPlay - why only EVs but not ICE vehicles????
GM did this purely for new/addl revenue from subscriptions ...

Fair point on subscriptions—there’s clear upside for GM to keep drivers in its own OS. They also claim EV features work best in a unified stack. Either way, the EV‑only move signals a business strategy; consumers can vote with their wallets if CarPlay is a must‑have

 

[turbineseaplane]

CarPlay is a consumer focused feature.

Built in systems are there to harvest your data, resell it and charge you subscriptions for even using it.

I can't believe we have iPhone users who are advocating for this.

CarPlay/AA should at least be an option.

 

[Nom4d]

And the award for completely missing the point goes to......
Maybe if it helps you understand better, substitute the words "Android Auto" wherever you see "CarPlay". The point remains the same: people have all their stuff already on their smartphones - so car manufacturers who want to sell cars should give people the option of accessing *all* the stuff on their phones while they're in the car! Car manufacturers should stop re-inventing the friggin' wheel by re-implementing apps and functionality that already exists on peoples' smartphones. But Rivian and others want that subscription revenue they can collect if they keep those smartphone car apps out of their cars.

Swapping ‘Android Auto’ for ‘CarPlay’ doesn’t change the core tension: consumer convenience vs. automaker platform control. It’s reasonable to want plug‑and‑play access to phone apps, and it’s also reasonable for manufacturers to ship an integrated stack if that’s their strategy—then the market decides if that bet pays off

 

[M3T]

VW bought Rivian software not long ago... BMW and its brands have an upcoming version of their software that will be pretty great with a panoramic display. Tesla has its own software / hardware so vertically integrated that's pretty hard to beat. Others will eventually catch up.

Vehicle brands are starting to wake up and realize how crappy it is to outsource everything when it comes to electronics.

Apple missed the boat. Forest for the trees on this one.

All the downvotes are coming from people who have no clue what vertical integration vs outsourcing looks like in the auto business. Literally group think. How's that new iPhone treating ya? The one you get every single year to show it off to your friends?

As a customer I'd much rather have software that gets actual updates instead of the complete trash these manufacturers keep putting together and then not updating properly. You talk like someone who works inside the automotive industry and that's the only sort of folks who think this is a good idea. Every single other person will read this, scoff, and swear off Rivian like I just did.

They want to be able to use outdated software to coax you into a new lease and in this particular financial era we're in, hard pass.

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

"We're really convicted on this". Don't worry RJ, I don't think Apple will sue you for this decision

 

[xDKP]

This is my number one complaint about my Tesla. CarPlay is just better. Apple Maps is better. I wish I had the choice, but oh well.

We have a Tesla and a second car with a pretty good CarPlay system. I would take the Tesla system any day of the week over the CarPlay interface.

 

[BlueSunglass]

Ok great. So let me tell you how I responded to my brand new 2025 Chevy Equinox I financed ended up.

I was rear ended. Insurance totaled it. Did I go and get another Chevy? No. Why? It lacked CarPlay.

So what did I get? A better featured car which was also cheaper. I got a 2025 Ioniq 5 SEL

I won't consider a car without CarPlay. Simple as that. Speak with your wallets everyone. Thats the only language they will understand.

Also... Rivian.. LOL

 

[Naraxus]

I haven't had a radio or ac in my Tacoma in 25 years so all this talk of Carplay etc confuses me a bit

 

[matsan]

Too bad if manufacturers go this way. I bet they won’t offer for example Home Assistant app (using the iPhone app through carplay daily to open gate and garage) or Swedish public service radio app (also through CarPlay, integrated in the panel)
Meh :-/

 

[jimmy_john]

And when it's time for that in house system to be updated you don't think it'll be part of your next service charge? Good luck when new roads are constructed and your in house GPS needs a maps update. CarPlay is simply a passthrough mirror, not a takeover of a manufacturers system.

This isn't the 90s. "in house GPS" on Rivian is just a wrapper on google maps live data