Rivian Owners Start Petition to Get CarPlay and Android Auto

Rivian isn't alone in the anti-CarPlay offensive. Tesla also sticks with its proprietary software, while General Motors joined this select club with a full transition to Android Automotive. GM decided to block CarPlay and Android Auto on all zero-emission vehicles, starting with the 2024 Blazer EV.

Tesla customers have taken the matter into their own hands, finding alternative ways of enabling CarPlay into their vehicles (even though they're not by any means as convenient as a native offering pre-loaded with the car).

In Rivian's case, all hopes are on the carmaker rolling out a software update to enable CarPlay and Android Auto.

A petition started this week and brought to my attention by one of our readers (thank you, Jonathan!) calls for Rivian to release this highly anticipated software update as soon as possible.

The petition explains that Rivian customers are "missing out on basic features found in the cheapest new cars." Indeed, CarPlay and Android Auto have become increasingly common regardless of the price range. Apple's data reveals that nearly 8 in 10 new car buyers in the United States specifically look for CarPlay when ordering a new vehicle.

Rivian owners explain in the petition that the only way around the lack of CarPlay and Android Auto is to use the mobile device to access their favorite applications, such as Google Maps, Waze, Spotify, or YouTube Music. This makes "driving more dangerous," they claim.

Someone explains in a comment that using a mobile device with such a small screen doesn't make much sense. "We have a huge screen right there," the message reads.

While customers believe CarPlay and Android Auto are must-have systems, Rivian's officials think otherwise. CEO RJ Scaringe said in an interview in April that adopting CarPlay and Android Auto gives in infotainment control to Apple and Google. Rivian wants to fully control the software stack, providing users with the necessary applications while managing their data.

CarPlay and Android Auto are screen mirroring systems powered by iPhones and Android phones, respectively. They're an extension of the mobile screen mixed with a driving-optimized experience. Some applications, such as YouTube and Netflix, are restricted, but the primary benefit is having Google Maps, Waze, Spotify, and other popular apps on the infotainment screen.

Rivian head of software Wassym Bensaid explained that the carmaker wants to provide customers with a more advanced alternative to CarPlay (as frustrating as this promise can be, it sounds a lot like the words General Motors has been saying on several occasions to defend its decision to kill off CarPlay and Android Auto).

Bensaid promised more advanced functionality that wouldn't otherwise be possible on CarPlay, including deeper integration into the vehicle. The navigation system can access the vehicle range and estimate charging stops. Rivian also prepares more alternatives to the features packed into CarPlay and Android Auto, including a digital assistant to compete with Siri (to be honest, Siri is a huge mess on CarPlay, so hopefully, Rivian's competitor would be significantly more advanced).

While Scaringe claimed the reason for not offering CarPlay is the carmaker's desire to maintain control of the infotainment system, Bensaid says the company wants its drivers to get something significantly more advanced.

Customers don't seem convinced that sticking with Rivian's software is the right way to go. "The Rivian maps lead me directly to traffic jams," someone says.

Rivian's CEO emphasized the company is always listening to feedback and keeping an eye on every main channel, including reddit and YouTube comments. The petition, which has already received 125 signatures and is now aiming for 200 by mid-next week, will probably land in the company's inbox, too, though I doubt it'll change anything in the short term.

Scaringe's comments leave the door open to a software update that could eventually enable CarPlay, but the chances of seeing this happening are extremely slim. The number of carmakers not willing to give in to Google and Apple keeps growing for various reasons.

First, these companies are typically obsessed with data, and car manufacturers don't want to allow them to obtain vehicle and driver data. For example, BMW has decided to adopt Android Automotive without Google Automotive Services, choosing to install a third-party app store in its cars specifically to block Google from accessing its data.

Second, Apple is slowly but surely becoming a rival to traditional carmakers. Apple is working on an Apple Car that could launch in 2025 and 2026.

Apple will launch the next-generation CarPlay in a few days, and despite the tech giant promising an impressive group of carmakers to adopt the new system, I don't expect Rivian to express any interest in this upgraded solution.