Photo: EVSportline
One of the most important issues Rivian owners have complained about was the missing support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As Rivian refused to indulge its customers, third-party suppliers have stepped up to fill this void.
Rivian is, next to Tesla, the most successful EV startup in the Western world. Although it still needs to prove it can become profitable before its cash reserves run out, Rivian is doing a lot of things right. Many of those things were copied from the big brother Tesla, which set a powerful example of how to turn an idea into a successful corporation.
Tesla's example is probably why Rivian doesn't want to open its software to third-party providers like Google or Apple. After all, data is the most important asset of a company, and adopting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto means giving users' data to these companies. Rivian made its policy very clear thanks to strong statements from the company's CEO, RJ Scaringe, and software honcho, Wassym Bensaid.
Knowing that Rivian is working to improve the software experience in its vehicles doesn't comfort people who want to have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, though. That's why Rivian owners petitioned the EV startup to offer support for these screen mirroring systems. Don't hold your breath, though, as it's unlikely that Rivian will budge. After all, Tesla has no intention to offer it, and many Tesla owners swear the native software is way better than whatever Apple or Google can come up with.
Tesla owners have tried aftermarket solutions, with the Tesla Android Project being the best known. It allows Tesla owners to project their smartphones' screens, whether Apple or Android, to the infotainment center via the web browser. Unfortunately, Rivian owners cannot use this loophole because their EVs don't have a browser. This was either a monumental mistake or a deliberated decision by Rivian to prevent such workarounds from making their way to Rivian vehicles.
However, this didn't prevent businesses from devising an Apple CarPlay/Android Auto solution. However, this involves installing a new screen inside the vehicle for your phone projection. This is not very different from using your phone for Waze, except that the third-party screen can be much larger than your smartphone's. It's still far from a native solution, as you need alternative ways to connect these kits to the infotainment system for sound integration.
Sportline offers such a screen explicitly designed for Rivian R1S and R1T EVs. It attaches to the center screen, adding the necessary Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration without cluttering the cabin. The good news is that the installation doesn't need any tools or modifications. The downside is that this also means no integration with the infotainment system. To route the sound to the Rivian speakers, you need to connect this accessory via Bluetooth or use the Auxiliary audio input. It can also emit the sound as an FM signal, which can be received via the onboard radio.
Tesla's example is probably why Rivian doesn't want to open its software to third-party providers like Google or Apple. After all, data is the most important asset of a company, and adopting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto means giving users' data to these companies. Rivian made its policy very clear thanks to strong statements from the company's CEO, RJ Scaringe, and software honcho, Wassym Bensaid.
Knowing that Rivian is working to improve the software experience in its vehicles doesn't comfort people who want to have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, though. That's why Rivian owners petitioned the EV startup to offer support for these screen mirroring systems. Don't hold your breath, though, as it's unlikely that Rivian will budge. After all, Tesla has no intention to offer it, and many Tesla owners swear the native software is way better than whatever Apple or Google can come up with.
Tesla owners have tried aftermarket solutions, with the Tesla Android Project being the best known. It allows Tesla owners to project their smartphones' screens, whether Apple or Android, to the infotainment center via the web browser. Unfortunately, Rivian owners cannot use this loophole because their EVs don't have a browser. This was either a monumental mistake or a deliberated decision by Rivian to prevent such workarounds from making their way to Rivian vehicles.
However, this didn't prevent businesses from devising an Apple CarPlay/Android Auto solution. However, this involves installing a new screen inside the vehicle for your phone projection. This is not very different from using your phone for Waze, except that the third-party screen can be much larger than your smartphone's. It's still far from a native solution, as you need alternative ways to connect these kits to the infotainment system for sound integration.
Sportline offers such a screen explicitly designed for Rivian R1S and R1T EVs. It attaches to the center screen, adding the necessary Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration without cluttering the cabin. The good news is that the installation doesn't need any tools or modifications. The downside is that this also means no integration with the infotainment system. To route the sound to the Rivian speakers, you need to connect this accessory via Bluetooth or use the Auxiliary audio input. It can also emit the sound as an FM signal, which can be received via the onboard radio.
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