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Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has stated that the company has no plans to adopt Apple’s CarPlay platform. CarPlay is available on the majority of cars today, including electric vehicles from companies such as Ford and Polestar, but Rivian, alongside Tesla, is one of the notable holdouts.
During an interview on the Waveform podcast with MKBHD, Scaringe explained that Rivian’s decision not to use CarPlay is driven by the company’s desire to be the “arbiter or head chef” of the in-car software experience. By controlling the system, the company can ensure that it delivers the best possible user experience to its customers.
According to a stat that Apple shared at WWDC 2022, 79% of car buyers in the United States only consider CarPlay-capable vehicles when making a purchase. However, Scaringe believes that by controlling the software stack, Rivian can continually improve its in-car software and roll out regular updates to address gaps and add new features.
“The thing about controlling the software stack is we get to continually make it better”, Scaringe said. “Every few weeks we have a new software release that either adds features or addresses gaps. We listen to feedback, and it drives our software roadmap to make sure we’re delivering on what customers want”.
Although Rivian had previously indicated that it may add CarPlay in the future if there was enough consumer demand, Scaringe’s comments suggest that this is not currently on the roadmap.
GM recently announced that it will no longer support CarPlay starting with its future EVs. The company’s reasoning was even weaker than Rivian’s, with the company blatantly stating that it wants to collect additional data on how customers drive and charge their cars.
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Despite CarPlay’s popularity, many carmakers have been slow to adopt the platform. However, as more and more consumers look for vehicles with CarPlay support, it remains to be seen whether companies like Rivian and GM will reconsider their stance on the platform.
