Common Myths About CarPlay

[JM.]

The podcast and audiobook apps I've been using for years don't exist for Rivian. Or probably any automaker. So now I need to.... what? Swap apps to one that does exist for Rivian? Is there one? Use my phone over Bluetooth?

What you're missing is that the Rivian fanatics have already told you that you don't need what Rivian doesn't give you. All drivers are the same, and they are the arbiters of what you "need." Listening to podcasts and books across platforms in your daily life is not necessary.

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[Hereforthesnacks]

My partner and I together hold $1.6M in RIVN. You?

Weird. Your partner and I hold $17.6M in RIVN.

 

[therealcmj]

I may regret this, but...Why aren't you taking advantage of the opportunities to add Carplay to your Rivian?

I considered EVSportline's, EVPlay's, and a couple of other products.

• EVSportLine is another display sitting on top of the existing screen; frankly it makes the car look like you're sitting at mission control and in an accident is a dangerous glass projectile.
• EVPlay is a clever solution that repurposes the existing display and hooks into the car via a clever hack. But Rivian could get cleverer, detect its presence, and block it. And given their previous statements it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they did.
• And finally all of those systems wind up just using Bluetooth to get audio to the car; which comes with its own set of issues.

I ultimately decided that the jankyness of an aftermarket device would bother me as much as the current situation does. And that when the time comes to get a new car I'd choose one with CarPlay and vote with my feet. But in the meantime I’d tell anyone who asked for my experience and opinion what I thought.

 

[Taco Corp]

I've got a buddy who loves my R1T and wants a Rivian but won't because he's a effing apple phone person who needs it on a $100k+ vehicle.

Phone people can't get over themselves.

I know people like that as well, it's not about the phone though, it's about the iaccess to apps of their choosing, personal data and preferences. Rivian is slowly starting to check some of those boxes, and the native software is way better than most manufacturers but Apples got a 20 year head start and phones for better or worse are the work/life data hub for many. CP is totally optional, not really that different than Alexa or Rivian AI, they're there if you want them but no ones mandating usage.

 

[KBabione]

I considered EVSportline's, EVPlay's, and a couple of other products.

• EVSportLine is another display sitting on top of the existing screen; frankly it makes the car look like you're sitting at mission control and in an accident is a dangerous glass projectile.
• EVPlay is a clever solution that repurposes the existing display and hooks into the car via a clever hack. But Rivian could get cleverer, detect its presence, and block it. And given their previous statements it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they did.
• And finally all of those systems wind up just using Bluetooth to get audio to the car; which comes with its own set of issues.

I ultimately decided that the jankyness of an aftermarket device would bother me as much as the current situation does. And that when the time comes to get a new car I'd choose one with CarPlay and vote with my feet. But in the meantime I’d tell anyone who asked for my experience and opinion what I thought.

Thanks for the reply - Because EVPlay is a hardware solution (basically using the infotainment screen as a monitor/input device for two computers) I think it's really unlikely that Rivian could detect it or do anything about it, but I know it's a possibility. If Rivian gets to the point where they consider EVPlay and the functionality a threat to their existence then that could change.

And you're right - you're not going to change the BT connection for audio. I have my phone hardwired to the EVPlay unit (I just plug it in when I want to use it and keep the cable coiled up and out of the way most of the time), but the audio is still through BT.

Enjoy your next car!

 

[JM.]

Weird. Your partner and I hold $17.6M in RIVN.

Then you guys are doing even better!

 

[therealcmj]

Apples got a 20 year head start and phones for better or worse are the work/life data hub for many. CP is totally optional, not really that different than Alexa or Rivian AI, they're there if you want them but no ones mandating usage.

The Apple or Android ecosystem benefit is even bigger than just the 20 years. Apple made the iPhone + iOS + CarPlay, but then there's an innumerable number (millions?) of developers building iOS apps, and adding CarPlay support to their apps is "simple" (in the grand scheme of things). What's more they are all competing against each other in their respective spaces to build the best music/podcast/map/etc service possible. The same applies to Android.

Every car that supports CarPlay gets the benefit of all of those developers and services for absolutely free. No car manufacturer, no matter how big or good, can ever hope to invest even a measurable fraction of that much developer effort into their own infotainment apps!

 

[therealcmj]

Because EVPlay is a hardware solution (basically using the infotainment screen as a monitor/input device for two computers) I think it's really unlikely that Rivian could detect it or do anything about it, but I know it's a possibility. If Rivian gets to the point where they consider EVPlay and the functionality a threat to their existence then that could change.

They don't have to think of EVPlay as a competitor. Their lawyers could simply decide there's a liability thing and tell their developers to figure out a way to detect it. How they go about doing that is obviously an open question - the EVPlay guy reverse engineered what the pins do but I don't know that it's documented. But assuming there's any smarts in the display itself they could encrypt the traffic, or could do a PKI-based handshake on startup. Or 100 other things.

It's also of interest to note that between Gen 1 and 2 Rivian removed the CANBUS pins from where EVPlay plugs in. So they're already a way down the "lock it all down" path.

 

[TheMac]

CP/AA are outdated interfaces. AI agentic voice controls are the way forward. Rivian’s AI is already showing the earliest signs of this with Google Calendar integration without having AA. Rivian have already said they are working with Apple. My guess is waiting for iOS 27. Apple missed the boat with respect to AI and so their user base is largely ignorant to the current capabilities of AI (Genmoji is not AI it’s a kids toy) and the use of AI agents. Apple may catch up in iOS 27. But keep in mind most Apple users are not very tech savvy, nothing wrong with that this is why Apple is so successful it basically mothers their user base with simple yet very restrictive software interfaces. Just look at those screaming for CP/AA, can’t see the forest from the trees.

 

[mclark2112]

The Apple or Android ecosystem benefit is even bigger than just the 20 years. Apple made the iPhone + iOS + CarPlay, but then there's an innumerable number (millions?) of developers building iOS apps, and adding CarPlay support to their apps is "simple" (in the grand scheme of things). What's more they are all competing against each other in their respective spaces to build the best music/podcast/map/etc service possible. The same applies to Android.

Every car that supports CarPlay gets the benefit of all of those developers and services for absolutely free. No car manufacturer, no matter how big or good, can ever hope to invest even a measurable fraction of that much developer effort into their own infotainment apps!

Well said. And this is the true benefit. Having spent the last 2+ years in a Rivian, the experience is great, and I get their argument to an extent (I also get that it is a cash/data grab). I didn't totally miss carplay. The fact that Rivian has Google Maps, native Apple Music andAudible, all my bases are covered.

I am now in a BMW i4 as I await my R2, and have Carplay again. It is as simple and solid as I remember, but not having the maps connected to the vehicle battery system is a letdown. But for me it doesn't really matter as I don't road trip my EV. Would I prefer to have the option for CP or AA? Yep, but the Rivian experience is pretty good.

 

[Thebandit]

CP/AA are outdated interfaces. AI agentic voice controls are the way forward. Rivian’s AI is already showing the earliest signs of this with Google Calendar integration without having AA. Rivian have already said they are working with Apple. My guess is waiting for iOS 27. Apple missed the boat with respect to AI and so their user base is largely ignorant to the current capabilities of AI (Genmoji is not AI it’s a kids toy) and the use of AI agents. Apple may catch up in iOS 27. But keep in mind most Apple users are not very tech savvy, nothing wrong with that this is why Apple is so successful it basically mothers their user base with simple yet very restrictive software interfaces. Just look at those screaming for CP/AA, can’t see the forest from the trees.

Bro I just want to be able to listen to my podcasts and audiobooks in my car lol. Recommend a good audiobook player for Rivian that syncs with my phone so I can listen seamlessly. I don't care about AI controls if there's no app to control.

 

[TheMac]

Bro I just want to be able to listen to my podcasts and audiobooks in my car lol. Recommend a good audiobook player for Rivian that syncs with my phone so I can listen seamlessly. I don't care about AI controls if there's no app to control.

Ignorance is bliss! You will be able to do all that and do so much more with AI Agents. Apple WILL have these eventually, I’ll be surprised if it’s not in iOS 27 in some form. As I said in my first post most Apple users are not very tech savvy and are blinkered to Apples current offerings. Let’s see what happens in the next several months with Apples new AI where you can use multiple AI’s and not be locked to Siri. The fact Apple is doing this screams they know they screwed up and are way behind. They will catch up by using external AI.

 

[Thebandit]

Ignorance is bliss! You will be able to do all that and do so much more with AI Agents. Apple WILL have these eventually, I’ll be surprised if it’s not in iOS 27 in some form. As I said in my first post most Apple users are not very tech savvy and are blinkered to Apples current offerings. Let’s see what happens in the next several months with Apples new AI where you can use multiple AI’s and not be locked to Siri. The fact Apple is doing this screams they know they screwed up and are way behind. They will catch up by using external AI.

I will be able to? So I can't today? I don't use Apple.

So there's no interface in the Rivian to play my audiobooks. And somehow this is good for me. Got it, thanks for clearing that up.

 

[TheMac]

I will be able to? So I can't today? I don't use Apple.

So there's no interface in the Rivian to play my audiobooks. And somehow this is good for me. Got it, thanks for clearing that up.

ok, hope you day improves.

 

[Whale Blubber]

I always thought it would be cool if Rivian were to include a small, optional, moveable tile called the "adventure space" in the display for those who want to mirror something from their phone there that's not otherwise supported, e.g., a blood glucose app, a navigation app, a music player, whatever.

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