Lack of Android Auto / Waze is a reason to cancel

[Lyon]

While it sucks, I think that if the lack of these features is a big deal you should wait to see if they’re added later. My guess is that they will not be. Apple and AA are both designed to sort of “cover” the existing UI. Neither company wants their app running in a window on the side. Given how much of the truck is controlled off the center screen they can’t really have CarPlay sitting on top most of the time.
That said, I’d be really pleased if they prove me wrong; I think there needs to be as few reasons as possible for someone not to buy an EV.

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[Darkon]

While it sucks, I think that if the lack of these features is a big deal you should wait to see if they’re added later. My guess is that they will not be. Apple and AA are both designed to sort of “cover” the existing UI. Neither company wants their app running in a window on the side. Given how much of the truck is controlled off the center screen they can’t really have CarPlay sitting on top most of the time.

I agree. While AA/CarPlay looked amazing compared to 2016 car UI, it is looks ugly compared to something like Rivian UI 2021 edition (from screenshots). I just don't want to loose all the functionalities if they cannot learn to work together.

 

[crashmtb]

I just use android auto/CarPlay as a bandaid for crappy UI, or in rental cars for consistency.

if I don’t have to rely on my phone for infotainment functions that‘s even better.

so it will be interesting to see how rivian’s system shakes out.

 

[sevengroove]

I think it's fair to say that when most people ask for AA/CarPlay, what's at the core of that request is better integration with the apps we use on our phones. Fine, don't give us AA/Carplay, but at least make an effort at integrating more apps into the admittedly better looking Rivian UI. Spotify is the leader in global streaming market share, but the share is not as huge as folks would think (~30%). That's ~70% of users that RIvian is not accommodating by only launching with Spotify.

And we haven't talked about video entertainment - wouldn't it be nice to catch up on an episode of your favorite show on Netflix/Hulu/HBO/CBS/Paramount/Discovery while you wait for your Rivian to charge up, or hang out on a ferry ride to one of the PNW's many islands? What's the game plan for those apps?

 

[Lyon]

I think it's fair to say that when most people ask for AA/CarPlay, what's at the core of that request is better integration with the apps we use on our phones. Fine, don't give us AA/Carplay, but at least make an effort at integrating more apps into the admittedly better looking Rivian UI. Spotify is the leader in global streaming market share, but the share is not as huge as folks would think (~30%). That's ~70% of users that RIvian is not accommodating by only launching with Spotify.

And we haven't talked about video entertainment - wouldn't it be nice to catch up on an episode of your favorite show on Netflix/Hulu/HBO/CBS/Paramount/Discovery while you wait for your Rivian to charge up, or hang out on a ferry ride to one of the PNW's many islands? What's the game plan for those apps?

I assume we will see Amazon Prime Video first…

 

[Scott]

I think it's fair to say that when most people ask for AA/CarPlay, what's at the core of that request is better integration with the apps we use on our phones. Fine, don't give us AA/Carplay, but at least make an effort at integrating more apps into the admittedly better looking Rivian UI. Spotify is the leader in global streaming market share, but the share is not as huge as folks would think (~30%). That's ~70% of users that RIvian is not accommodating by only launching with Spotify.

And we haven't talked about video entertainment - wouldn't it be nice to catch up on an episode of your favorite show on Netflix/Hulu/HBO/CBS/Paramount/Discovery while you wait for your Rivian to charge up, or hang out on a ferry ride to one of the PNW's many islands? What's the game plan for those apps?

I am willing to bet 90% of complaints of lack of Carplay / AA will go away if they have 3 things:
1. Great navigation that make people NOT long for google / waze / applemaps.
2. Integration to more music services (Apple Music being the next largest marketshare)
3. Solid text/messages integration


There are definitely other use cases that people care about, but those 3 cover the grand majority of the must have features from CarPlay.

 

[SeaGeo]

Do you have an EV right now? I'll give you my EV driver perspective on it.

The things that Android Auto restricts makes using it really difficult for EV purposes. Waze doesn't let you enter a trip with automatic consideration on where you will need to charge. Right now you have to do that on your own. For gas vehicles it's never been a worry because stations are everywhere, and in places they aren't, you get signs warning you. For every day drives, it's not really a big deal, but if you're planning on driving to a lot of places far away from home that will require recharging, it's a big annoyance. Having to do any of that stuff right now requires flipping through a couple apps to check, and doing it while driving is really annoying because you don't get good results.

I have zero.problems using android auto with VW navigation (when I want to deal with that abomination) in my ID.4. I will find it very annoying to not have integration with my podcasts and audible books.

I really don't get what's so hard about just running tunes from your phone.

Bluetooth is a shit user experience , and suddenly I have to fiddle with my phone (illegally) To change podcasts for example.

 

[hola29]

I was/am an early adopter of Carplay...the first release was quirky, too simple UI, and Siri made tons of errors. It has taken years to improve, and now it is useful. That said, now it is good, but the design is for small screens...like really small. Rivian has soooo much more real estate, control over physical UI via buttons, and also Alexa integration...They also have key charging info and state of charge that can directly be input into their nav...

More importantly, at least with CarPlay/Waze/Google Maps/Apple Maps is the offline maps are non-existant. Maybe more more importantly, Carply does not function hands free without cell...HUGE bummer. If Rivian has more offline functionality, big big win.

Overall, I use Carplay literally every day, but I see no reason Rivian cannot absolutely best it via UI. I believe they can probably blow maps out of the water too with integrations with charging vendors, RAN, and SoC. Messaging and Voice activation is no longer new/difficult, phone calls also not new/difficult...lesser used, like calendar integration is a we'll see but also not that novel...

My big issues will be:
- How good is voice activation? Will it need cell to operate all functions?
- How good will maps be with routes/traffic? Waze is great urban w/ traffic, not so great rural. Google maps opposite. Apple maps worse than both.
- Is messaging seamless?
- How good is Spotify integration (guessing great, but we'll see)? Will they offer apple music?
- How easy is it to use Radio + Nav +messaging + phone?

I guess my status is I would love to give up Carplay for something better, but not so happy with something worse. I signed up for going on this ride with Rivian, so we'll see and I'll definitely provide feedback if there is an appropriate channel.

I have a 2013 car, bought in 2015. Just when Android Auto and Apple CarPlay became good. For 6 years now I have waited to replace my car to finally be done with awkward phone mount, overheating phone from being constantly on, and non-integrated Waze direction for my travels.

I put an order for the R1T absolutely certain that no car company would ever return to pre-2010 mentality of assuming their system is so good, they do not need offer that compatibility. Needless to say that after watching countless reviews, I just heard yesterday that Android Auto will not be supported and I am devastated. If I pay $100k for a truck, I surely hope it supports a standard feature that all decent cars supported for the past 8 years. $30k cars have it so it is not a cost problem. It is an ego attitude. Even Toyota - a notorious holdout to Android Auto - agreed to add the feature in 2019.

I understand Rivian thinks its GPS system is amazing but that missed the point. I think the UI is gorgeous too, but that does not change that I want MY music app, not yours, I want Waze for my commute, I doubt your GPS has the Waze info (if it does, let me know), etc... Rivian needs to stop thinking they will be the one for all. Be compatible. The beauty of an EV truck is that it can be a commuter vehicle AND an adventure vehicle. And the speccs and reviews all confirmed it. So let us commuters have what we need, and commuters use Waze.

My only hope is that I read that an OTA update could add the feature in the future. So I won't cancel my order yet of course, but Rivian, I beg you, add the feature.

 

[Darkon]

There are definitely other use cases that people care about, but those 3 cover the grand majority of the must have features from CarPlay.

I think you need to add voice recognition and that will be a very hard one for Rivian to master, especially if it want to have an international reach. I tried Alexa and that will not do it.

 

[Moonjock]

Anything will be a huge upgrade from my 2002 Avalanche. Does not even have Bluetooth. My wife's 2019 Ascent has AA but I don't drive her car often enough to say whether I like Bluetooth or AA better.

 

[EmPickle]

I have AA on my Miata. It's kinda annoying compared to the Tesla. I can still run Spotify in both but only the Tesla has Netflix. Music in the Tesla greets me as soon as I open the door and it's always on but I have to wait until I start my car and it boots the entertainment system and then connects to my phone with AA and a lot of apps that I wish would have an AA interface (looking at you Soundcloud) do not! The AA universe is slow, buggy, and limited. If Rivian follows the Tesla model, I'll be quite pleased.

 

[Scott]

I think you need to add voice recognition and that will be a very hard one for Rivian to master, especially if it want to have an international reach. I tried Alexa and that will not do it.

I work in the speech to text space. Apple's speech to text / voice recognition isn't great. Google's is excellent. Amazon can compete with Siri here in terms of accuracy. Then it is just up to the car software to have the ability to translate those words in to usable commands. I am not super worried about voice recognition.

 

[EmPickle]

I think you need to add voice recognition and that will be a very hard one for Rivian to master, especially if it want to have an international reach. I tried Alexa and that will not do it.

I think turning off Alexa will be the first thing I do.

 

[hola29]

Different strokes for different folks. I want voice activation for basically everything. Temp, lighting, vents, calls, messages, frunk, locks, Driver+, navigation...reaching down for three level menus while driver on a touchscreen sounds dangerous. Then again I have never driven L2 automation, so maybe then its ok

But good we have choices...

I think turning off Alexa will be the first thing I do.

 

[DaveA]

I really don't get what's so hard about just running tunes from your phone.

I'm with you, Amazon Music over bluetooth sounds great to me...unless you have highly trained ears, I just don't think the differences are noticeable between lossless audio, etc., unless you are a sound tech.

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