RJ Scaringe Defends Rivian’s Decision to Skip CarPlay

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe joined The Verge’s Decoder podcast this week, and once again, the question came up that so many owners keep asking: where’s Apple CarPlay?

RJ didn’t dodge it. He told guest host Joanna Stern that Rivian has no plans to support CarPlay or the new CarPlay Ultra, explaining that the company wants to deliver a “seamless digital experience” built entirely around Rivian’s own software. In his words, Rivian doesn’t want customers “jumping between two systems.” Instead, they’re focusing on native app support, things like Apple Music (when it works), Google Maps, Spotify, and even YouTube, integrated directly into the UI.

He added that Rivian is investing heavily in AI features over the next 18 months, including a voice-to-text messaging system that will live natively within the vehicle. “We’re really convicted on this,” he said.

As someone who actually loves CarPlay, I’ll be honest, I wish Rivian would at least offer it as an option. I understand the logic behind keeping everything consistent and beautifully designed (and Rivian’s interface is one of the best in any EV), but there’s something uniquely familiar and functional about CarPlay that just works. For many drivers, it’s not about looks, it’s about comfort, continuity, and the ecosystem we’ve built around our iPhones.

RJ even acknowledged that skipping CarPlay might cost Rivian some buyers. “We accept that,” he said. And while I respect that confidence, it’s a tough pill to swallow for those of us who’ve grown used to the simplicity and reliability of CarPlay.