Rivian CEO explains why his cars will never use Apple CarPlay
Published on Oct 07, 2025 at 6:48 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Oct 08, 2025 at 3:20 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe is adamant that the EV maker isn’t interested in Apple CarPlay.
No standard CarPlay, and definitely no CarPlay Ultra.
The reason is logical, but a bit risky.
And there’s something else that Rivian is determined to try with its cars.
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Why Rivian doesn’t want to resort to Apple CarPlay
On the latest episode of The Verge‘s Decoder podcast, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe explained why the EV maker continues to say ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to Apple’s CarPlay – both the standard version and the more advanced CarPlay Ultra.
CarPlay Ultra has been received with mixed ‘feelings’ so far.
There are a few brands that are on board, but several automakers are refusing to let Apple take over their cars’ systems.
And that’s pretty much the reason why Scaringe is rejecting both Ultra and also the regular version.
In his view, it isn’t a good idea to make customers ‘switch between Rivian’s own software and CarPlay’.
Instead, the American automaker wants to integrate existing technologies, features and apps – from Spotify to Apple Music and so on – into Rivian’s own systems and displays.
“We’re really convicted on this,” he said.
It’s a risky strategy, but he knows and accepts it.
“Some of those decisions not everyone’s going to agree with [and] that’s okay,” he said.
The other thing this EV maker is pioneering
Ideally, Rivian would want to use voice command for everything.
RJ Scaringe said on more than one occasion that voice control is the ultimate goal, although he admits this is much easier said than done.
One more thing the CEO is fully aware of is that customers aren’t ready for this.
Customers are clearly saying they want more physical buttons, not fewer, and presumably a voice-controlled car wouldn’t have any.
So, at least for now, that’s just an idea.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
