Electric automaker Rivian has no plans to introduce support for Apple CarPlay in its vehicles, founder and CEO RJ Scaringe says. The company's stance was explained in a recent interview with The Verge 's Nilay Patel on the "Decoder" podcast . Scaringe emphasized that Rivian's desire to create a seamless and well-integrated digital experience is the primary reason for not adopting CarPlay.
He likened the decision to Apple choosing to develop iOS and macOS instead of using Microsoft's Windows operating system, stating, "There is a reason that ironically is very consistent with Apple ethos for us to want to control the ecosystem." Apple CarPlay was introduced in 2014 and allows iPhone users to mirror some of their phone's features on a car's infotainment system, providing access to Siri , navigation, and some apps in a familiar interface. It has become a popular feature in many vehicles, with a significant number of consumers considering it a critical factor in purchasing decisions.
Rivian's rejection of CarPlay stems from a desire to maintain control over the entire user experience within its vehicles. Scaringe highlighted that CarPlay's inability to "leverage other parts of the vehicle experience" would necessitate users to exit the app for certain functions, such as opening the front trunk. He explained, "We have taken the view of the digital experience in the vehicle wants to feel consistent and holistically harmonious across every touchpoint.
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