Rivian is trying to solve one of the most contentious problems in modern cars, how to handle texting without handing the dashboard over to Apple or Google. Instead of adding Apple CarPlay, the company is building its own native messaging and voice assistant so drivers can read and send texts directly through Rivian’s software.
The move turns a long-simmering philosophical stance into a concrete product decision, and it raises the stakes in the battle over who controls the in-car screen. If Rivian’s approach works, it could validate a strategy that keeps Big Tech at arm’s length while still giving drivers the seamless communication they expect.
Rivian’s software-first bet comes into focus
Rivian has always pitched its R1T pickup and R1S SUV as rolling computers as much as adventure vehicles, and the company is now using that identity to justify skipping Apple CarPlay in favor of its own interface. Instead of mirroring a phone, Rivian is leaning on a tightly integrated operating system that controls everything from navigation to off-road modes, and now, texting. That approach is central to the way the company wants drivers to experience its vehicles, with the screen and voice controls treated as core product features rather than optional add-ons.
The decision is not happening in a vacuum. Startup automaker Rivian is fully committed that Apple CarPlay is not the future, and its leadership has framed the new native texting tools as proof that it can deliver the same everyday convenience without ceding control of the dashboard to Apple. The company’s own interface is designed to keep messaging, navigation, and vehicle data in a single visual language, something it argues a phone projection layer cannot match, a stance reflected in detailed coverage of how Rivian sidesteps CarPlay while still promising modern communication features.
A “convicted” decision to skip Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Rivian’s refusal to support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is not a temporary compromise or a bandwidth issue, it is a deliberate product philosophy. Chief executive RJ Scaringe has repeatedly described the choice as a matter of conviction, arguing that Rivian can deliver a better, more cohesive experience by owning the full software stack. In his view, letting Apple or Google take over the center screen would fracture that experience and limit Rivian’s ability to innovate on its own timeline.
That position has been reiterated in detail, with Scaringe characterized as standing firm on Skipping Apple and Android Auto and calling it a Convicted Decision that reflects how the company wants to build its digital ecosystem. He has said Rivian wants a seamless digital experience that is not dependent on third party projection systems like CarPlay or Android Auto, a stance that has been laid out in reporting on how Rivian CEO Stands Firm on the issue.
Native texting as the alternative to Apple CarPlay
The clearest manifestation of that philosophy is Rivian’s plan to build texting directly into its vehicles instead of relying on Apple CarPlay to handle messages. Rivians are getting native text messaging in 2025, but not via CarPlay, with the company’s chief software officer confirming that the system will let drivers send and receive messages through Rivian’s own interface. That means the car will tap into a driver’s phone connection but present conversations in a Rivian-designed layout, with voice controls and on-screen prompts tuned to the rest of the vehicle’s software.
The company is positioning this as a way to give drivers the core benefits of CarPlay, especially hands-free communication, without surrendering the center display to Apple. The native messaging feature is part of a broader software roadmap that includes improvements to navigation and voice control, and it is being framed as a direct response to owners who have said they need better hands free text support. The plan for Rivians getting native text messaging in 2025, but not via CarPlay, has been spelled out in detail, including how it will integrate with the existing infotainment stack, in coverage that highlights Rivians getting native text messaging as a cornerstone of the company’s software strategy.
How Rivian’s on-screen texting actually works
Rivian is not just promising background connectivity, it is redesigning the way messages appear and behave on the dashboard. The company has described a system where incoming and outgoing texts are both read aloud and displayed visually, with a dedicated on-screen element that shows the conversation thread. That visual component is meant to mirror the clarity drivers expect from their phones while still fitting into Rivian’s minimalist interface, and it is being treated as a key differentiator from Apple CarPlay’s more generic message banners.
The details of that interface have surfaced in social previews that show how messages will pop up and how drivers can respond using voice or quick on-screen actions. One description notes that the feature will read messages aloud but will also have an on-screen element which displays the message, whether incoming or outgoing, on the screen for the driver to see, underscoring Rivian’s focus on both audio and visual cues. That dual approach is highlighted in a post explaining that But it will also have an on-screen element, which displays the message, whether incoming or outgoing, on the screen for the driver to see, a description shared in an update tied to Startup automaker Rivian and its evolving infotainment design.
Rivian Assistant and the push toward AI-driven communication
Texting is not arriving as a standalone feature, it is bundled into a broader push toward an AI-powered in-car helper called Rivian Assistant. The company is pitching Rivian Assistant as the brain that will manage messages, navigation, and scheduling, using natural language to interpret what drivers want. Instead of tapping through menus, owners will be able to ask the assistant to read texts, send replies, or adjust routes, with the system designed to understand context like upcoming appointments or recent destinations.
Rivian Assistant is also being built to integrate with Google Calendar, which means the car can surface upcoming events and suggest routes or reminders without requiring Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Reporting on the feature notes that the new Rivian Assistant can send and read texts, and integrate with your Google Calendar, and that it is part of a larger Intelligence system the company says will continue to evolve. That description of Rivian Assistant, including its early limitations and its promise as a new workaround for drivers who expected CarPlay, is laid out in coverage of how Rivian refuses to support Apple CarPlay but is betting on its own AI.
Hands-free driving and the 2,492% software swing
Rivian’s messaging overhaul is arriving alongside a dramatic expansion of its driver assistance capabilities, which the company says will make its hands free driving about 2,492% better. That eye catching figure reflects how many more miles of mapped roads and scenarios the system will be able to handle once new software and data pipelines are in place. The same underlying software infrastructure that powers those driver assistance upgrades is also being used to support features like native texting and Rivian Assistant, tying communication and automation together in a single platform.
The company has described how its vehicles will use a combination of onboard sensors and cloud data to turn static maps into a real time future, allowing the hands free system to adapt to changing conditions while still keeping the driver in the loop. That same real time awareness is crucial for messaging, since the car needs to know when it is safe to surface notifications or prompt for a reply. The scale of the upgrade, including the claim that Rivian’s hands free driving is about to get 2,492% better and that the system will turn static maps into a real time future, is detailed in reporting on how Rivian’s hands free driving is being transformed by new software.
Why Rivian insists its own UX can beat Apple CarPlay
Rivian’s leadership is not just avoiding Apple CarPlay for technical reasons, it is arguing that the company can build a better user experience by keeping everything in house. Executives have said they want the interface to feel like a single, coherent environment, where navigation, media, vehicle controls, and messaging all share the same design language and performance characteristics. In that view, CarPlay and Android Auto are convenient but ultimately fragment the experience, forcing drivers to jump between different visual systems and interaction models.
That argument has been sharpened over time, with Scaringe echoing his previous comments that Rivian is focused on offering a seamless digital experience that would be compromised by splitting attention between its own software and CarPlay. He has framed the choice as a tradeoff between short term customer expectations and long term control over the product, suggesting that Rivian is willing to absorb some criticism now in order to build a more distinctive interface later. The tension between those goals is captured in reporting that notes how Echoing his previous comments, Scaringe said Rivian is focused on offering a seamless digital experience that would be compromised by splitting its own software and CarPlay, a point underscored in coverage of how Rivian CEO doubles down on skipping CarPlay.
Owners push back, from forums to $400 hacks
Not every Rivian owner is convinced that the company’s software can replace Apple CarPlay, and some are taking matters into their own hands. A $400 hack has emerged that brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Rivian R1S and R1T models, using aftermarket hardware to project the familiar phone interface onto the truck’s screen. The existence of that workaround underscores how strongly some drivers value Apple’s ecosystem, even if it means adding unofficial gear to a six figure electric vehicle.
The hack, described as a $400 solution that unlocks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on Rivian vehicles, has been showcased in videos aimed at EV fans who want the best of both worlds, Rivian’s hardware and Apple’s software. It highlights a growing subculture of owners who are willing to tinker with their trucks to get features the factory will not provide, even as Rivian warns that such modifications are not supported. The specifics of that workaround, including the exact $400 figure and the way it brings Apple and Android Auto into the cabin, are laid out in a video explaining how a $400 hack brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Rivian R1S and R1T.
Community debate over texting, navigation, and what “good enough” looks like
The tension over CarPlay and native software is playing out most vividly in Rivian’s own owner communities, where drivers trade experiences and expectations. Some forum users have argued that the lack of CarPlay is a deal breaker, especially for those who rely on Apple Maps, Messages, and third party audio apps. Others counter that Rivian’s built in tools are improving quickly and that the company’s focus on its own software will pay off as features like native texting and Rivian Assistant mature.
One thread captures the debate around messaging in particular, with a user asking when Rivian will get CarPlay and saying they need better navigation and hands free text. Another poster responds by asking, What will they say when Rivian rolls out its own version of voice text, and whether critics will still refuse to use it or point to the same complaints. That exchange, including the exact phrasing of What will they say when Rivian rolls out its own version of voice text, is documented in a discussion where owners weigh how far they are willing to go without CarPlay, a debate visible in posts like When will Rivian get CarPlay that focus on texting and navigation.
Why Rivian thinks the CarPlay backlash will not hurt sales
For all the noise online, Rivian appears confident that skipping Apple CarPlay will not meaningfully damage demand for its trucks and SUVs. Supporters often point to Tesla as a precedent, noting that it has never offered CarPlay or Android Auto yet still commands strong sales and intense brand loyalty. Rivian seems to be betting on a similar dynamic, where distinctive hardware, over the air updates, and a tightly integrated interface outweigh the absence of Apple’s familiar icons.
That perspective is echoed by some owners who say they get a kick out of all the complaining and do not believe the lack of CarPlay will hinder future sales in any meaningful way, citing Tesla as an example. The argument is that buyers who prioritize CarPlay above all else may look elsewhere, but that Rivian’s core audience is more interested in the overall experience and the pace of software improvements. That sentiment, including the line I really get a kick out of all the complaining and people who think that the lack of CarPlay will hinder future sales in any meaningful way (see Tesla), is captured in a forum post discussing how Rivian CEO says Apple CarPlay isn’t going to happen and what that means for the brand.
The broader stakes: who owns the dashboard
Rivian’s built in texting and refusal to adopt Apple CarPlay are part of a larger struggle over who controls the digital heart of the car. Automakers see the dashboard as a strategic asset, a place where they can build recurring revenue, gather data, and differentiate their products. Tech companies see it as the next frontier for their ecosystems, extending iOS or Android into the vehicle so users never leave their platforms. Rivian is choosing the automaker side of that divide, even if it means swimming against the current of customer expectations.
Startup automaker Rivian is fully committed that Apple is not the future of its dashboard, and its decision to build native texting, Rivian Assistant, and a dramatically upgraded hands free driving system all point in the same direction. The company wants drivers to think of the truck itself as the smart device, not just a screen for their phone, and it is willing to invest heavily in software to make that vision real. That conviction is reflected in reporting that notes how Startup automaker Rivian is fully committed that Apple CarPlay is not the future and that its new messaging tools add a component Apple CarPlay lacks today, a framing laid out in coverage of how Startup automaker Rivian is redefining in car communication on its own terms.
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