Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
In an interview with The Verge’s podcast “Decoder,” Rivian’s founder and CEO, RJ Scaringe, said that the electric vehicle (EV) maker will not integrate Apple CarPlay into its vehicles.
The software is integrated into over 800 models from more than 20 brands including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Hyundai, and Lucid Motors.
Despite acknowledging the strong relationship with Apple, Scaringe explained the rationale behind this decision. “We have a great relationship with Apple,” Scaringe stated. “As much as I love their products, there’s a reason that ironically aligns with Apple’s own ethos—our desire to control the entire ecosystem.”
Scaringe emphasized that incorporating CarPlay would conflict with Rivian’s vision of creating a cohesive and unique product experience. “CarPlay isn’t consistent with how we think about really creating a pure product experience,” he noted.
While recognizing the challenge of replicating all the features offered by CarPlay, Scaringe expressed confidence in Rivian’s approach. “We understand it’ll take time to fully capture every feature that CarPlay offers, and we hope customers are seeing the progress. I think it often gets more noise than it deserves,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, Scaringe highlighted upcoming enhancements to Rivian’s in-car technology, particularly in navigation and communication. “Beyond mapping, better integration with texting is on the horizon. We know it’s a crucial feature, and our teams are actively working on it,” he concluded.
Last weekend, at its third annual Family and Friends Day, the company’s Vice President of Manufacturing said Rivian has secured “well over 100,000 pre-orders” for its upcoming R2 model.
Earlier this month, the company introduced an automated online tool for trade-in estimates applicable to electric vehicles (EVs) but also to internal combustion engines (ICEs) and Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
Owners of Rivian vehicles or other brands, including trucks and vans, can now submit their vehicle for evaluation using either the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or the license plate number, as initially shared by the Rivian owner Chris Hilbert on X.
The company has recently started the rollout of its latest over-the-air (OTA) software update, version 2024.23, for both R1 models (R1S and R1T) from the second generation.
The OTA update marks the debut of the Rivian Autonomy Platform, a suite of advanced driver assistance features. One of them is the “Lane Change on Command” feature, which allows the vehicle to perform lane changes when the turn signal is activated while Highway Assist is engaged.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
