Rivian Partners with Google for Custom EV Maps & App Integration
▼ Summary
– Rivian and Google collaborated for 18 months to create a unique version of Google Maps for Rivian EVs, replacing the previous Mapbox-based system.
– The integration is distinct from Google’s typical automotive partnerships, featuring Rivian’s custom UI, trip planner, and EV charger locations.
– Rivian chose this deep collaboration to address customer feedback on navigation, opting for API-level integration rather than incremental improvements.
– The update includes Google Maps features like traffic updates and satellite imagery, while retaining Rivian-specific tools like range estimates and charging stop selection.
– The new maps and additional trip-planning features will roll out via a software update to Rivian vehicles and its mobile app starting today.
Rivian has teamed up with Google to deliver a customized mapping experience tailored specifically for electric vehicle drivers. The collaboration, which took 18 months of joint engineering efforts, introduces a unique version of Google Maps integrated into Rivian’s navigation system. This marks a significant step in Rivian’s strategy to differentiate its vehicles through advanced software solutions, a move that recently led to a major partnership with Volkswagen.
Unlike standard Google Maps integrations or Android Automotive implementations seen in other brands, Rivian’s approach goes deeper. The automaker worked closely with Google to develop an API-level integration, allowing for a seamless blend of Rivian’s proprietary features with Google’s mapping technology. Drivers will now see EV-specific enhancements, including optimized trip planning, real-time charger availability, and Rivian’s signature interface design.
Wassym Bensaid, Rivian’s chief of software, explained that customer feedback highlighted navigation as a pain point. Rather than making minor adjustments to its existing Mapbox-based system, the company opted for a complete overhaul. “Google embraced a new model of collaboration, giving us the flexibility to integrate our solutions at a deeper level,” Bensaid noted. The result is a navigation system that retains Rivian’s identity while leveraging Google’s robust mapping infrastructure.
Key features include real-time traffic updates, satellite imagery, and tappable points of interest, all embedded within Rivian’s interface. The system also incorporates Rivian’s trip planner, which calculates range estimates and suggests charging stops using data from A Better Routeplanner. Additionally, drivers will benefit from Rivian’s charging score, a rating system that evaluates charging stations based on plug-in data from other Rivian vehicles.
The update extends beyond the vehicle’s dashboard. Rivian’s mobile app now offers enhanced trip planning tools, including place photos, descriptions, and satellite views (available with a Connect+ subscription). Users can also check live traffic conditions and share destinations directly from the app to their vehicle.
The new Google-powered navigation is rolling out immediately via an over-the-air software update, ensuring all Rivian owners gain access to these improvements without needing a dealership visit. This partnership underscores Rivian’s commitment to refining the EV ownership experience through cutting-edge technology.
(Source: TechCrunch)
