Electric vehicle maker Rivian has teamed up with Google Maps to bring a fresh navigation experience to its vehicles, and it’s rolling out to drivers starting today.
‘Rivian Navigation with Google Maps’ gives supported vehicle owners all the benefits of Google’s mapping prowess while keeping Rivian’s distinctive look and feel. Rather than simply slapping Google Maps onto their dashboards, Rivian has used Google’s Auto SDK to create something that is uniquely theirs.
What does this mean for Rivian owners? You’ll get Google’s routing, traffic updates, ETAs, and satellite imagery. But, you’ll still have all those Rivian-specific features that EV drivers need like charging stop planning and their ‘Charging Scores’ system.
We’re seeing car makers realise they need Silicon Valley’s tech expertise, but they don’t want to surrender their identity in the process. This partnership lets Rivian retain a unique interface while solving the complex problem of reliable navigation.
For anyone who’s ever taken a road trip in an electric vehicle, you’ll know that anxiety-inducing feeling when the battery percentage starts dropping and you’re not quite sure where the next compatible charger is. By combining Google’s vast location database with Rivian’s EV-specific features, this collaboration directly addresses that pain point and could drive further adoption.
Google isn’t stopping with Rivian either—they’re already working with other car manufacturers to create similar bespoke navigation systems using their Auto SDK platform. It aims to strike a middle ground between full Android Automotive integration and completely independent systems.
The partnership comes at a time when the battle for dashboard dominance is heating up. Tech companies and traditional automakers are racing to create ever more sophisticated systems that keep drivers informed, entertained and – most importantly – coming back for their next vehicle purchase.
For drivers, it’s a win-win: the reliability of Google Maps with the tailored experience that likely helped them to choose a Rivian in the first place.
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