Rivian's New Software Update Throws the Kitchen Sink of Tech At Its Vehicles - But Not Apple CarPlay

by Chris Teague

Published: December 19th, 2024

rivian s new software update throws the kitchen sink of tech at its vehicles but

Rivian owners may be missing out on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the company has piled on nearly every other tech feature in their place. A recent software update brought a wealth of new “stuff,” including streaming video apps.

The 2024.47 software update includes native apps for YouTube, SiriusXM, and Google Cast features, solving the challenges of streaming video in the R1S and R1T. Google Cast is effectively Chromecast for cars, allowing users to “cast” video and other content from a smartphone to the vehicle’s displays and audio system. Users can also stream videos from Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney+, and others because they support Google Cast.

While the updates open access to those features, Rivian owners may still be on the hook for subscription fees. The SiriusXM Connect+ bundle costs up to $25 per month, and apps like Netflix require payment before viewing. SiriusXM’s subscription fee also buys a Wi-Fi hotspot, satellite graphics for the navigation system, and more.

Rivian also updated the Highway Driving Assist system for its second-gen vehicles, refined parts of the infotainment interface, and added new graphics to some menus. The software update will make long charging sessions much more entertaining for owners, but it illustrates how far Rivian will go to include new tech features without leaning on CarPlay or Android Auto, two features many buyers say they can’t live without.

[Images: Rivian]

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Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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3 of 13 comments

Forward Observer on Dec 20, 2024
$25 a month. Hmmm. How much will I save on gasoline?

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- 28-Cars-Later on Dec 20, 2024
  None, now!
  
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Lloyd Bonified on Dec 20, 2024
Can't you already get a Rivian with an actual sink and the rest of the kitchen though?

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