Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
The EV manufacturer Rivian confirmed on Wednesday that is partnering with Google on Google Cast and YouTube integration.
Drivers will now have the capability to stream high-definition video content with premium sound directly to their vehicle’s screen, using both a native YouTube app and Cast-enabled apps on their phone or tablet.
Rivian says that customers will have “control over playback through the vehicle display, enabling them to play, pause, or skip ahead using the large touchscreen”.
“You can also respond to texts and calls on your phone, without disrupting your viewing or draining your phone’s battery. If you shift into Drive, the video will pause automatically for safety,” the company noted in a statement.
During Google’s largest developer conference on Tuesday, attendees encountered a sign stating “Experience Google in the car,” positioned next to a Rivian R1T model.
Following rumors about Apple, images from the event were shared on a forum for owners and enthusiasts, prompting speculation about a potential collaboration with the tech giant which is now confirmed.
Last week, the chief executive RJ Scaringe enhanced Rivian‘s “level of vertical integration around software and associated electronics platforms” claiming it gives “a lot of customer facing strength” but also fact that creates “partnership opportunities” without unveiling any new partner.
In an open discussion with Rivian owners held last month, Rivian‘s Vice President of Software Development, Wassym Bensaid, confirmed that video streaming will be released via an over-the-air (OTA) update this summer.
According to Rivian owners in a brand-dedicated forum, Bensaid has recently not answered when asked if Rivian would switch to Google’s mapping solution in its vehicles.
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During Google’s keynote, the company unveiled key products its flagship Gemini AI model, which now has a faster Flash version to compete with OpenAI’s recently announced GPT-4o, a faster iteration of their GPT model.
Last week, Rivian reported on Tuesday its financial results from the first quarter of 2024 while reiterating its annual production guidance of 57,000 vehicles.
During the conference call, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas asked Rivian’s CEO RJ Scaringe about a report suggesting Apple’s interest in collaborating with Rivian.
The chief executive said Rivian “doesn’t comment on market rumors” adding later that the company’s in-vehicle technology gives the automaker “a lot of customer facing strength” while it creates “opportunities for partnership certainly”.
“But as we think about what we’ve built as a company, one of the core elements that makes this unique is just the level of vertical integration around our software and associated electronics platforms. So the ECUs in the vehicle and essentially the various computers across the vehicle and then the base software, the base operating system all the way up to the applications layer, creating those ourselves without the need to rely on Tier 1 suppliers gives us a lot of — gives us a lot of customer facing strength, but also creates opportunities for partnership certainly,” he added.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
