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Rivian CEO Explains Why Apple CarPlay Won't Come to Its Vehicles
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The trouble with most car UI's is that they pretty much stay the same for the life of the car. Automakers want you to buy another vehicle to get the latest features whereas my iPhone 12 Pro is running the latest version of CarPlay and will likely continue to do for the next few years.
I also much prefer the Apple Maps experience over most automaker's wire frame navigation that feel wooden. I can type out a new address or use Siri much faster than the clunky nav designs. This is why Ferrari is getting out of the navigation business and likely we will see others follow suit. Heck, I have multiple navigation apps on my iPhone that provide me real time traffic data without having to pay ANOTHER subscription fee for something I already have.
No car has provided me the integrated experience of using my phone, ability to voice text, join Teams calls, see my calendar for meetings, allow others to stream music without disconnecting my phone, have easy access to my playlists and other apps that aren't built into the vehicle. While designers might not like the aesthetics of mixing in Apple CarPlay with their IP UI - most people love it.
I do. And count me as one of those people who won't buy a modern car without it. And for some people in my family, I have retrofitted a head unit with CarPlay into their vehicles and they love it.
I also much prefer the Apple Maps experience over most automaker's wire frame navigation that feel wooden. I can type out a new address or use Siri much faster than the clunky nav designs. This is why Ferrari is getting out of the navigation business and likely we will see others follow suit. Heck, I have multiple navigation apps on my iPhone that provide me real time traffic data without having to pay ANOTHER subscription fee for something I already have.
No car has provided me the integrated experience of using my phone, ability to voice text, join Teams calls, see my calendar for meetings, allow others to stream music without disconnecting my phone, have easy access to my playlists and other apps that aren't built into the vehicle. While designers might not like the aesthetics of mixing in Apple CarPlay with their IP UI - most people love it.
I do. And count me as one of those people who won't buy a modern car without it. And for some people in my family, I have retrofitted a head unit with CarPlay into their vehicles and they love it.
Because outside the United States, Apple Maps is pretty crummy and misses out many roads, so navigation is dire.
Moreover, if you are wondering how many people use Google Maps, the number is approximately 118 million users vs around 64 million for Apple Maps in the US, and over 1 billion users globally vs around 400m users for Apple Maps.
I'm also not sure if you have used Waze or not, but compared to Apple Maps, for navigation, it's light-years ahead of Apple.
Not being funny, but SiriusXM is a poor example. It doesn't exist outside of the US, and there are a lot more of us out here than there are in there. (I don't mean that in a bad way, but you need to look at this from a global perspective. It's a little like me comparing BBC iPlayer and complaining it's not integrated to the US market!)
Considering you are outside of the US, how are you to tell how Waze is light years ahead of Apple? I've used Apple Maps internationally for a decade, I've yet to run into any issues on any continent that I would call "dire".
And all for a $9.99/month fee lol.
I don't need to look at this from any perspective, I wasn't the one bringing up SiriusXM. All satellite radio is garbage.
ironically, Apple can't do that. Apple is required to allow other browsers, other music players, other mapping programs and other email and messaging programs. Yet the display in your car that runs on a computer is free to be closed.
We have a Model Y and Ford Lightning.
While I agree that the Tesla UI system is snappy and superb, I really do miss Carplay like Ive used in other vehicles. The Tesla text messaging SUCKSSSSS, and it would be nice to have some of the apps I know and love on the screen.
The Ford Lightning interface is my favorite of the 2 vehicles with wireless CarPlay even if the screen is slightly laggier. I love that I just get in and it works and has all my phone stuff on the screen, along with the Ford stuff on the side if I want. I can use both Apple Maps and the Ford Navigation at the same time.
I know lots of Tesla owners promote that CarPlay is useless/not needed in Teslas, but I know that if it were offered everyone would be excited (I would be for sure). Same for Rivian/others
While I agree that the Tesla UI system is snappy and superb, I really do miss Carplay like Ive used in other vehicles. The Tesla text messaging SUCKSSSSS, and it would be nice to have some of the apps I know and love on the screen.
The Ford Lightning interface is my favorite of the 2 vehicles with wireless CarPlay even if the screen is slightly laggier. I love that I just get in and it works and has all my phone stuff on the screen, along with the Ford stuff on the side if I want. I can use both Apple Maps and the Ford Navigation at the same time.
I know lots of Tesla owners promote that CarPlay is useless/not needed in Teslas, but I know that if it were offered everyone would be excited (I would be for sure). Same for Rivian/others
Only because they have no choice
I'm fairly certain it would get tons of usage if it was an option for them
I mean you can still use Bluetooth which allows you to control and listen to all your music through the touchscreen. Or you can use the built in Apple Music, Spotify, or Tidal app. You would have to pay $99 a year for the mobile connectivity, but honestly I would pay for that anyway to have Sentry mode, turn on the AC/heat when I leave my desk at work, traffic updates, etc.
My iMessages pop up just like they would on CarPlay.
I don’t have anyone else driving, but I am pretty sure options are basically saved by the individual key that you use. I use my phone as my key. If someone else used it, I could program their phone as a key, or give them a keycard similar to a hotel key.
Honestly, I mostly agree with the OP and don’t really care that much about CarPlay. The Tesla interface is fine and it’s all integrated pretty fluidly with the car. I can understand why CarPlay isn’t a great option for Tesla with FSD. You basically would have to use their map interface for proper FSD integration. I’ve only owned the car a little over a month, but I just got my second OTA software which I consider pretty damn cool as a tech nerd.
There are of course things I would change that I don’t really agree with if I were in charge, just like any electronic device. Elon is Elon and is firm with his beliefs, which can obviously be frustrating.
I wish they would just be honest: it's about subscriptions and data collection. They cannot charge a monthly subscription to things like maps and music and they cannot sell your usage data with CarPlay.
I can at least respect the above reasoning. I cannot respect being obviously lied to about the esoteric things RJ said.
I can at least respect the above reasoning. I cannot respect being obviously lied to about the esoteric things RJ said.
Rivian charges 149* for a year… the asterisk is because they also allow you to use WiFi and tether to your phone and never pay them a dime.
And you’re missing the value of Tesla and Rivian’s software. Not only is it far superior to CarPlay and Android Auto, but you take everything to any other car you drive. That is, I can get into any Tesla or any Rivian and the seat, mirrors and steering wheel will move to my settings - even a rental. All my logins to my services follow me thru the cloud. Once you’ve used them, going back to a car with only CarPlay or AA feels like a massive downgrade. They’re slower than these interfaces, and give the same impression of going from CarPlay down to a legacy OEM infotainment system.
That's a bad analogy since MacOS and Windows were released roughly around the same time and have been competitors for decades. iOS defeated RIM's blackberry and Windows Mobile and webOS and so forth.
Whereas on the other hand with CarPlay, it has been around for at least 9-10 years, long before Rivian was even conceived, and CarPlay has achieved critical acclaim with consumers. In fact, Rivian is probably losing sales by not integrating CarPlay with its OS.
Couldn't CarPlay simply be another app that runs on a portion of the screen without taking over the entire UI?
The question I would have if I were an executive there, would be: could the new CarPlay system be used with our UI design goals, needs and aesthetics? If not, then what would Apple need to add for us to do it?
Alternative headline: "Rivian CEO Explains Why I Won't Buy Their Vehicles"
I didn't miss anything with value of Tesla or Rivian's software. This isn't CarPlay vs. Rivian. This is the option of CarPlay vs. no option at all.
I know what a cloud profile is, you're not adding anything here. I have used all of the software out there...there's no downgrade as Android Automotive also provides functionality that current CarPlay doesn't provide. CarPlay 2.0 will add that back.
As far as slowness, you must have used CarPlay with a slow infotainment system.
If Apple can be considered a gatekeeper in the Eu, then so can car companies. Therefore they should be forced to open up so CP or AA can be used.
People on here will complain, but like he said, it’s quite ironic that the reason people love Apple is because of their closed ecosystem, but then hate it when other companies want to do the same thing with their own product.
Electric automaker Rivian has no plans to introduce support for Apple CarPlay in its vehicles, founder and CEO RJ Scaringe says.
The company's stance was explained in a recent interview with The Verge's Nilay Patel on the "Decoder" podcast. Scaringe emphasized that Rivian's desire to create a seamless and well-integrated digital experience is the primary reason for not adopting CarPlay. He likened the decision to Apple choosing to develop iOS and macOS instead of using Microsoft's Windows operating system, stating, "There is a reason that ironically is very consistent with Apple ethos for us to want to control the ecosystem."
Apple CarPlay was introduced in 2014 and allows iPhone users to mirror some of their phone's features on a car's infotainment system, providing access to Siri, navigation, and some apps in a familiar interface. It has become a popular feature in many vehicles, with a significant number of consumers considering it a critical factor in purchasing decisions.
Rivian's rejection of CarPlay stems from a desire to maintain control over the entire user experience within its vehicles. Scaringe highlighted that CarPlay's inability to "leverage other parts of the vehicle experience" would necessitate users to exit the app for certain functions, such as opening the front trunk. He explained, "We have taken the view of the digital experience in the vehicle wants to feel consistent and holistically harmonious across every touchpoint."
The decision to exclude CarPlay is seen as part of Rivian's broader strategy to control the "digital real estate" within its vehicles. Scaringe stated, "We just believe that it is such an important piece of real estate, the digital ecosystem, that it was something we want to retain."
He also acknowledged customer feedback regarding the current shortcomings in Rivian's mapping and navigation systems, an area where CarPlay excels. He noted that Rivian is actively working on improvements, facilitated by the company's acquisition of route planning app maker Iternio.
Despite not supporting CarPlay, Rivian plans to incorporate many of its desirable features on an "à la carte basis." The company has already integrated Apple Music with Spatial Audio support. Scaringe expressed his admiration for Apple's products and reiterated the strong relationship between the two companies. However, he emphasized the importance of consistency and control in delivering a "pure product experience" for Rivian customers.
The absence of CarPlay in Rivian's vehicles is not unique in the automotive industry. Tesla has never adopted the feature, and General Motors recently decided to drop support for CarPlay and Android Auto in its future electric vehicle models. In contrast, luxury brands like Porsche and Aston Martin are set to adopt the next-generation CarPlay experience.
Article Link: Rivian CEO Explains Why Apple CarPlay Won't Come to Its Vehicles
That's a mistaken assumption you've made, especially for those of us who've been around since WAY before iOS
(Macs are not and never have been a closed ecosystem)
I fully understand his reasoning, but he is missing a key point. Many (maybe most) people drive multiple vehicles whether they own more than one themselves, rent one when traveling, or have a work vehicle assigned to them. Now the Rivian experience is vastly different from what they use everywhere else. I love that I can get in my car, my wife's car, or an Avis rental car and have the same basic experience using CarPlay in each of them.
Electric automaker Rivian has no plans to introduce support for Apple CarPlay in its vehicles, founder and CEO RJ Scaringe says.
The company's stance was explained in a recent interview with The Verge's Nilay Patel on the "Decoder" podcast. Scaringe emphasized that Rivian's desire to create a seamless and well-integrated digital experience is the primary reason for not adopting CarPlay. He likened the decision to Apple choosing to develop iOS and macOS instead of using Microsoft's Windows operating system, stating, "There is a reason that ironically is very consistent with Apple ethos for us to want to control the ecosystem."
Apple CarPlay was introduced in 2014 and allows iPhone users to mirror some of their phone's features on a car's infotainment system, providing access to Siri, navigation, and some apps in a familiar interface. It has become a popular feature in many vehicles, with a significant number of consumers considering it a critical factor in purchasing decisions.
Rivian's rejection of CarPlay stems from a desire to maintain control over the entire user experience within its vehicles. Scaringe highlighted that CarPlay's inability to "leverage other parts of the vehicle experience" would necessitate users to exit the app for certain functions, such as opening the front trunk. He explained, "We have taken the view of the digital experience in the vehicle wants to feel consistent and holistically harmonious across every touchpoint."
The decision to exclude CarPlay is seen as part of Rivian's broader strategy to control the "digital real estate" within its vehicles. Scaringe stated, "We just believe that it is such an important piece of real estate, the digital ecosystem, that it was something we want to retain."
He also acknowledged customer feedback regarding the current shortcomings in Rivian's mapping and navigation systems, an area where CarPlay excels. He noted that Rivian is actively working on improvements, facilitated by the company's acquisition of route planning app maker Iternio.
Despite not supporting CarPlay, Rivian plans to incorporate many of its desirable features on an "à la carte basis." The company has already integrated Apple Music with Spatial Audio support. Scaringe expressed his admiration for Apple's products and reiterated the strong relationship between the two companies. However, he emphasized the importance of consistency and control in delivering a "pure product experience" for Rivian customers.
The absence of CarPlay in Rivian's vehicles is not unique in the automotive industry. Tesla has never adopted the feature, and General Motors recently decided to drop support for CarPlay and Android Auto in its future electric vehicle models. In contrast, luxury brands like Porsche and Aston Martin are set to adopt the next-generation CarPlay experience.
Article Link: Rivian CEO Explains Why Apple CarPlay Won't Come to Its Vehicles
Again, I love most of what Rivian is doing, but like GM they are trying to build a very isolated ecosystem that simply isn't how the real world works.