Rivian CEO: "We’re really convicted" about skipping CarPlay (The Verge interview 10/6/25))

[Chase32]

https://www.theverge.com/podcast/790685/rivian-ceo-rj-scaringe-r2-tariffs-china-ev-apple-carplay

Let the fireworks resume

CarPlay isn’t even that great anyways. I prefer my Rivian’s interface way more than CarPlay. I’m glad Rivian is staying strong with their decision to not use it.

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[Hereforthesnacks]

The list is kind of depressing lol specially because we can't say the Model Y doesn't have any competition (Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Mach-E, ID4, etc), with it being the only EV of note showing up on the list (outside of the 3). Gas cars reign supreme state side! Woohoo. How exciting to see the status quo being maintained.

lol. It’s super sad. But it kinda goes to what happens with new tech and polarization. I love all my EVs. I do see a place for ICE cars, but EVs are just a better experience for me. That said, this is the environment these cars compete in…

 

[VandalSibs]

Apologies - for years that was a Standard Range AWD option for the Y, and my brain shortcutted and went right to the middle option.

That being said, that going for $10 less than what the R2 will start at, which we know will also be possible to option with a big battery and RWD.

Watching what the prices will do should be interesting...

 

[hekhl00]

https://www.theverge.com/podcast/790685/rivian-ceo-rj-scaringe-r2-tariffs-china-ev-apple-carplay

Let the fireworks resume

Same old story. “We will offer a better experience than CP can provide, some day. Just not now”.

 

[captainjp]

Electrek says Tesla is about to unveil a stripped down Y.

Isn’t that redundant?

 

[TLDR_71]

This decision would be significantly less controversial if they just implemented some of the basic functionality offered in most cars/CarPlay. Hell, if they rolled out voice texting in the next update, that would probably pacify many.

 

[Dave Cundiff]

We had CarPlay in our Bolts. I'm glad we don't have CarPlay in our Rivians. I remember that CarPlay wouldn't display things I wanted, and I never figured out how to turn it off.

Others' opinions are equally valid -- but I wish Rivian well as they try to make CarPlay unnecessary.

Best wishes!

 

[1stPlace]

Weird that this CarPlay quote is the main news/discussion on this. I listened to the podcast and found the comments on AI/sensors/self-driving was more enlightening and possibly actual "news". Around the 47 minute mark, RJ said (and I'm paraphrasing) eyes off everywhere 2026, and point-to-point in 2027. I don't think I've heard him make those statements so clearly before, and he certainly seems to try a lot harder to be more accurate about his "future predictions" than Elon Musk.

 

[CrazyOne]

Weird that this CarPlay quote is the main news/discussion on this. I listened to the podcast and found the comments on AI/sensors/self-driving was more enlightening and possibly actual "news". Around the 47 minute mark, RJ said (and I'm paraphrasing) eyes off everywhere 2026, and point-to-point in 2027. I don't think I've heard him make those statements so clearly before, and he certainly seems to try a lot harder to be more accurate about his "future predictions" than Elon Musk.

Not a single company in this world has done this and that includes Waymo. Even Waymo, the best out there is very limited.

Waymo does that with sensors and computers that probably cost $40k to $100k, per AI estimates.

I will believe it, when I see it. Also, where is the hands free driving on G1? That was promised. RJ would do better if he focusses on delivering a reliable vehicle instead of selling snake oil for 10 years like ...

 

[gultin]

I've admittedly only tried out Android Auto on rental vehicles and I can see how it's good as a replacement for crappy infotainment systems, but in my case, it wasn't quite the panacea folks were making it out to be.

You're still limited by the automaker's implementation. As an example, when I recently tried it on a 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe, I was never able to figure out how to dim the display for nighttime driving. I had to literally shield my eyes from the screen using one of my hands during an hour long night time drive, where I was using Google maps from AA. Getting back into my Rivian after that experience felt like such a huge upgrade!

To each their own though.

 

[ksumnole]

Hey! He said they have a great relationship with Apple.... so there is a chance?

 

[VSG]

Weird that this CarPlay quote is the main news/discussion on this. I listened to the podcast and found the comments on AI/sensors/self-driving was more enlightening and possibly actual "news". Around the 47 minute mark, RJ said (and I'm paraphrasing) eyes off everywhere 2026, and point-to-point in 2027. I don't think I've heard him make those statements so clearly before, and he certainly seems to try a lot harder to be more accurate about his "future predictions" than Elon Musk.

Not a single company in this world has done this and that includes Waymo. Even Waymo, the best out there is very limited.

...

I will believe it, when I see it. ...

@CrazyOne: Before you start flaming Rivian and calling them liars, maybe first click through the link in the OP and see what RJ actually said? Because he most certainly did not make the statement you're quoting.

"...hands off the wheel, eyes off the road, in certain circumstances." (specifically, on a highway) isn't coming until 2027. Two years from now. That sounds pretty reasonable to me, in the context of everything he explained about their roadmap.

 

[CrazyOne]

@CrazyOne: Before you start flaming Rivian and calling them liars, maybe first click through the link in the OP and see what RJ actually said? Because he most certainly did not make the statement you're quoting.

"...hands off the wheel, eyes off the road, in certain circumstances." (specifically, on a highway) isn't coming until 2027. Two years from now. That sounds pretty reasonable to me, in the context of everything he explained about their roadmap.

This is not the first time he said that.

"Jan 23 (Reuters) - Electric-vehicle maker Rivian (RIVN.O), opens new tab plans to launch its advanced hands-free driver assistance systems in 2025 and its "eyes-off" systems in 2026, CEO RJ Scaringe said on Thursday."


https://www.reuters.com/business/au...-free-driving-system-2025-ceo-says-2025-01-23

Just today, it failed repeatedly to activate normal cruise control at around 25 - 30 mph. It probably happened 5 times during a 20 minute drive. SC wasn't optimistic about addressing these issues and told me that this is normal.

 

[elektrode]

We need a mantra…

“Text and Waze or STFU!”

It really is this simple when it comes to CP/AA discussions

Look, I love my Rivian interface, but STFU if you can’t do text and Waze in 3 YEARS!

 

[COdogman]

Not that I really care about this, but he does say in the interview that texting is coming s00n:

I think it’d be really hard to do that if we had to put all that through an application that expands to take over the screen and provides you essentially with a set of bubbles that feel very much like a CarPlay experience. So piece by piece, everything that someone may have missed from their CarPlay experience, whether it was a mapping, or soon we’re going to have a voice-to-text, is going to be there, and it’ll be beautiful.

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