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Rivian is giving iPhone owners something theyve been begging for: Apple CarPlay. After years of resisting, the EV startup has activated support across its lineup, letting drivers plug in and get their Apple Maps, Messages, and Spotify right on the center screen. Its a big dealnot just because CarPlay is convenient, but because Rivian had previously taken a Tesla-style stance of sayingno thanksto outside platforms.

Recommended Videos The move says a lot about how buyer expectations have shifted, and it highlights an interesting contrast with Tesla, which continues to resist CarPlay entirely. Lets break it down.

Tesla parallel: Control vs. openness

When Rivian first launched the R1T and R1S, it copied Teslas playbook: build your own infotainment system and keep drivers inside your ecosystem. The thinking was clear: if you own the screen, you own the user experienceand maybe future revenue from navigation, streaming, or other services.

　　Buyer expectations have shifted

This decision didnt happen in a vacuum. By 2023, over 90% of new cars globally supported CarPlay or Android Auto. McKinsey found that nearly half of car buyerswont even considera vehicle without them. J.D. Power surveys echo the same trend: smartphone integration is now a baseline feature, not a nice-to-have.

Related: The week in EV tech: 900 miles, 12 minutesEV charging just hit warp speed Rivians own system is slick, surebut when almost every other car on the lot has CarPlay, skipping it felt like a miss. This update puts Rivian back in line with what buyers expect.

　　From keys to dashboards: The iPhones role

Theres another layer here. Rivian already followed Tesla with a phone-as-key setup, letting you unlock and start your car with Bluetooth. But by embracing CarPlay (and maybe Apple CarKey in the future), Rivian is leaning even further into Apples ecosystem. The iPhone becomes not just your car key, but your dashboard too.

Its an interesting hybrid approach. BMW was first with NFC and UWB keysandCarPlay. Tesla was first with BLE phone keys, but it refuses to touch CarPlay. Rivian is now mixing both: Tesla-style phone keys plus BMW-style openness. A clever middle path.

　　Positioning against Tesla

Tesla owners have been grumbling for years about the lack of CarPlay and Android Auto. Rivian can now use that as a marketing angle:Were just as advanced as Teslabut well also give you the familiar tools you love.For a company still building its brand, thats a smart way to stand out.

　　 Bottom line on CarPlay

Rivians CarPlay support matters because it:

Breaks with Teslas anti-CarPlay stance. Recognizes that CarPlay/Android Auto are baseline expectations. Shows Rivian is more willing than Tesla to balance innovation with customer demand. That blend of control and openness could prove to be one of Rivians sharpest differentiators.

　　While Rivian listens, Stellantis steps back from self-driving tech

Rivians willingness to adapt isnt just about infotainment. The company has also been careful about how much self-driving technology it pushes. Earlier this summer, Rivian rolled out its unmapped roads feature for its second-generation platform, allowing hands-free driving on highways but deliberately avoiding the promise of full autonomy. Its a cautious approachgiving drivers convenience without overhyping what the tech can deliver.

Now compare that to Stellantis. In a surprising twist, the global automaker behind Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler is reportedly shelving its self-driving tech altogether. The reason? Americans dont want them. A recent survey from AAA showed deep skepticism about autonomous vehicles, with most consumers preferring driver-assist features over fully driverless experiences.

Thats a dramatic shift from just a few years ago, when every carmaker seemed to be racing toward autonomy. Tesla still touts Full Self-Driving as its moonshot, even if regulators and critics continue to push back. But Stellantis is reading the room: if customers arent asking for robotaxis, why sink billions into chasing them?

For Rivian, the takeaway is validation. Its strategy of offering measured, user-friendly driver-assist features looks smarter in light of Stellantiss retreat. For Stellantis, the move may resonate with a customer base that values ruggedness, utility, and trust over high-tech bravado.

　　 The bigger picture

Put Rivian and Stellantis side by side, and a theme emerges: the market is splitting around what driversactuallyask for. Rivian is leaning into familiar tech integration (CarPlay) while offering cautious steps on autonomy. Stellantis is taking an even harder line, deciding self-driving cars just arent worth chasing.

Its a reminder that EVs arent just about range or charging anymore. The real battle now is over trust, convenience, and making sure the tech matches what buyers really wantnot what Silicon Valley thinks they should want.