(Credit: Rivian)
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe dashed hopes that the EV company may offer Apple CarPlay in its electric vehicles. Instead, it will continue developing an in-house version of the technology.
"It's such an important piece of real estate, the digital ecosystem, that it's something we want to retain," Scaringe said in an interview with The Verge. "We realize it'll take us time to capture every feature that's in CarPlay."
R1T and R1S drivers with iPhones have been asking for a CarPlay integration, Scaringe says. Their biggest complaint with Rivian's existing software is its mapping product.
But rather than granting their wish, Scaringe is focused on developing a mapping system that will allow the driver to more "independently select" the driving route, base map, and points of interest. It will also overlay a map of available chargers featuring Rivian's proprietary reliability score. Rivian is also working on a "better integration with texting," like the one CarPlay offers.
Tesla also does not offer CarPlay, and General Motors is taking it out of its newest EVs (along with Android Auto.) These automakers say CarPlay is too restrictive and not fully integrated into their software stacks, making it harder to release new features and keep a consistent driver experience. For example, if a Rivian driver wants to open the frunk (front trunk) on their vehicle while using CarPlay, they "have to leave the application and go to another interface," Scaringe says.
Seemingly addressing these concerns, Apple unveiled a next-generation version of CarPlay at this year's WWDC that "allows each automaker to express their vehicle's character and brand." But it seems to not have been enough to sway Scaringe.
Rivian's decision not to integrate CarPlay is a very Apple-like approach, Scaringe says, as Apple also prides itself on developing its technology in-house.
However, Scaringe says Rivian has a "great relationship with the Apple team" and has integrated other Apple products into future vehicles. The next-generation R1 platform will offer the full Apple Music song catalogue, and allow drivers to open their vehicles with their Apple Wallet or Apple Watch.
Scaringe didn't mention any deeper Rivian-Apple partnership. The interview instead focused on the company's new joint venture with Volkswagen, in which Volkswagen will benefit from access to Rivian's software while Rivian gains Volkswagen's manufacturing scale and expertise.