Rivian developing ‘Apple Watch as a key’ function, native Apple Music integration – do phone

Whereas Rivian isn’t working on CarPlay support, the EV maker is planning a few different options that Apple followers will admire. In a current Q&A session this week, Rivian’s head of software program growth, Wassym Bensaid, revealed that the corporate is actively testing assist for permitting Apple Watch to serve as a key for R1T and R1S autos.

Rivian talks Apple Watch integration, Apple Music, and extra

In response to a person on the Rivian Forums, Bensaid mentioned through the Q&A session that assist for “Apple Watch as a secret is being actively appeared into/examined” and is on the corporate’s “roadmap” for a future software program replace.

No additional particulars on this function or timeline had been shared. Apple offers its own Car Key feature, however it’s unclear if Rivian would undertake this or develop its personal customized answer.

Additionally through the occasion, Bensaid elaborated extra on Rivian’s determination to not assist CarPlay. This follows a current interview with Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, during which he defined that RIvian’s determination to not use CarPlay is pushed by its need to be the “arbiter or head chef” of the in-automotive software program expertise.

Bensaid added to this rationalization by saying Rivian is working to natively combine among the options that CarPlay would provide, together with improved assist for notifications and textual content messages. The corporate can also be working to enhance its personal voice assistant, which Bensaid acknowledges is “not the very best.”

We all know that textual content messaging is actually one of many necessary options and one of many causes of why clients are lacking CarPlay, we’re engaged on that. I feel these of you who have already got an R1T on an R1S, you understand that our voice assistant right this moment just isn’t the very best. I’m being tremendous clear with you. So we’re working additionally on a variety of modifications and updates there.

So we’re taking it step-by-step. First, enhance the voice assistant expertise as a entire. After which after that, we’ll combine the messaging expertise.

Lastly, Bensaid confirmed that the corporate is engaged on integrating new audio and video streaming providers with its personal infotainment system. This would come with issues like Apple Music and Netflix, although Bensaid stopped wanting saying an excessive amount of on the topic as a result of “it’s corporations who’ve very massive confidentiality necessities.”

Rivian additionally shared a video on YouTube with elements of the Q&A session, although it doesn’t appear to incorporate your complete occasion. You possibly can examine that out beneath.

9to5Mac’s Take

If Rivian goes to proceed resisting CarPlay assist, then these are the kinds of options it must combine to maintain Apple followers completely satisfied. “Apple Watch as a key” is one thing that may be particularly compelling. It might give Rivian a leg up on different corporations like Tesla, which presently doesn’t natively assist utilizing Apple Watch as a automotive key.

Hopefully, Rivian is ready to make good on these guarantees. Apple Music assist is among the mostly-requested options, and that’s one thing already supplied by Tesla.

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