Rivian CEO says Apple CarPlay isn’t going to happen…

[ThirteenElectrics]

Next generation CarPlay with advanced AI, 6G and hardware compositors are growing to blow Rivian away. It’s going to be a stunning experience and it will make Rivian look like a joke.

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[Macjr]

No matter what the software/format, integrated texting needs to happen

 

[BearMan123]

Owner of a new Gen2 R1S that is broken in the shop if you've been follwing.

I'll tell you that I came close to not buying the car due to the lack of CP. BMW ix has car play integrated into the car such that you can move the map into the center dash and all directions and turns come up in the HUD.

But, for that car, the built in iDrive 7 is a piece of junk including menus on sub menus designed by a non-human engineer-so CP becomes my lifeline for maps and music. Good luck using native music and maps on that ride.

When I pause, there were only 2 functions I used in CP. Maps and Pandora.

Now, other than the fact I have a busted Gen2, I've started breaking the "loss". Tidal and Spotify work fantastic on the ipad like screen. For maps, you can actually search for directions on your iphone in Maps, and then click the box with an arrow and scroll down and click Rivian. Bang! It sends it to the Rivian maps and then the maps pull up the same route, albeit adding charging stations. Of course, you can search on the native screen in the car as they likely intend.

So, what I am I really giving up? An archaic music screen app on CP or just my 'crack' addiction to maps?

What I would like is Sirius/XM native in the car, although I know I can stream bluetooth. I rely on Sirius for news and sports. I believe this is on the way in some form.

What I most want is a functioning Gen2. It will be week 1 of being at the SC. My other posts explain what's up there.

If you have any difficulty sending directions in Apple Maps to the Rivian brain, I'll shoot y'all some pictures.

Note, GM has indicated they are pulling back from carplay.

 

[racekarl]

My take on CarPlay is that what really drives interest in it is not so much the features that it offers or its user interface so much as it's the fact that it most clearly embraces the concept of your phone as the center of control over your digital life.

For many (most?) users these days, their smartphone is their primary computer and primary interface to their digital life. It's where we mediate most of our communication, manage our entertainment preferences, etc. These digital interactions are now a huge part of, if not central to many people's identities, and their phone is practically an extension of themselves. CarPlay/AA fit this model very well, with the phone still clearly at the center of the interaction.

The vehicle becomes an accessory attached to the phone rather than the phone being an accessory attached to the vehicle.

When you think about it that way, the appeal to many users should be obvious. A car is a rolling computer, which should be subordinate to the primary computer which runs your life.* Why do I want to have do things like set up accounts or curate playlists when I've already done that? Why would I want to put up with inferior apps or immature features when I have a much better version in my pocket?

What also becomes obvious is why CarPlay is not appealing to Rivian. They did not set out to be Anker or iHome, another moon orbiting the Apple/Google sun. They set out to build vehicles that live at the center of their user's lives and hew closely to their self image. Aside from the loss of potential revenue, there is a potential loss of vision or drive or whatever you want to call it when you let go of the idea that your product is the most important one. That's what I hear RJ saying in these interviews, and I understand and respect it, even as I wish my truck had CarPlay. (Full disclosure: I added a CarPlay device).


* I know, here come the "I like to use my car for driving" people, of which I am one, but recognize that we are in the minority now.

 

[White Shadow]

Studies have shown that 35% of new car buyers won't consider buying a new vehicle that doesn't have CP/AA.

Not good, Rivian. If you refuse to give the people a feature that so many consider a deal breaker, you're only hurting yourself.

 

[White Shadow]

It's the right call in the long run. if you want to be a software centric car company focused on driver's experience, you don't outsource your experience to a 3rd party. Having both screens and all car features work in harmony is very much ideal.

If the goal is to sell cars, then you have to give people what they want. This feature is too important to ignore. Too many people will look elsewhere, especially as they start to get more options. It's a losing strategy.

 

[White Shadow]

If everyone wants CarPlay so much, stop complaining and go sell your Rivian and go buy a vehicle with CarPlay… Simple.

As a stockholder, I'd rather see just the opposite. Complain and then finally buy a Rivian if they decide to offer the feature that you want.

 

[godfodder0901]

Studies have shown that 35% of new car buyers won't consider buying a new vehicle that doesn't have CP/AA.

Not good, Rivian. If you refuse to give the people a feature that so many consider a deal breaker, you're only hurting yourself.

Studies have shown that ~30% of Americans won't consider buying a new vehicle unless it has an engine... Should they add one of those too?

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

It's about the user experience...Rivian ...like Tesla...wants control over that.

I still think they should offer some type of phone projection and also a web browser like Tesla offers.

I actually used the web browser in the Tesla quite a bit when on road trips or the wife would use it from the passenger seat.

What I really want is the Waze app integrated so I don't have to reply on my mobile device for it.

 

[SwampNut]

If the goal is to sell cars, then you have to give people what they want. This feature is too important to ignore. Too many people will look elsewhere, especially as they start to get more options. It's a losing strategy.

There was a time when I said I wouldn't buy a car without CP, and I was able to enforce that rule with ICE. But then we got a Tesla, and while the lack of a decent infotainment UI sucked a lot, my new and far more important rule became, NO DAMN GASOLINE. So I put up with it, and then even bought a Rivian which is another decade behind Tesla on software. And added a third-party CarPlay device. Turns out it was easier/cheaper to do that than to replace an ICE engine with a battery and motors.

 

[RedCanyon]

Ironically, I just dropped of my R1S for the 7500 mile check up and a new windshield (yes, it is ~$1,800... and they don't work with your insurance)... and got a new Audi Q7 as a loaner. I forgot how much I like/miss Apple CarPlay & Waze... and was impressed that the new Audi's Driver+ equivalent is on par with Rivian's... if not better. Also miss SirrusXM for news and sports. When is that coming again ... wasn't it Spring 2024?

 

[NY_Rob]

To quote a line from Vanilla Sky... "the answer to 99 out of 100 questions is money". I don't see any reason this particular argument has a different answer.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I don't see any reason this particular argument has a different answer.

Well, it's only been a few days since last ACP argument... So let's check on the horse.

Yup. It's definitely dead. Still.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Oh... and I got your Apple CarPlay right here:

Enjoy.

 

[Ingo B]

Side comment alert:

I've always found that a person's effectiveness/capability is inversely proportional to the number of buzzwords they use. I love the Rivian product overall (except for its glaring lack of USB playback), but man, RJ goes hard with the tech-corporate speak.

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