- The Rivian R1S and R1T EVs don’t have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
- That’s despite the cars’ infotainment systems running Android Automotive OS, which is capable of both features.
- Now, though, a third-party device can add CarPlay and Android Auto to Rivian’s EVs.
Rivian has never offered Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on the R1S SUV and R1T pickup, but the company is not alone. General Motors and Tesla are among the automakers that have decided to go at it alone and make infotainment systems that offer plenty of features without relying on Apple or Google to improve the user experience.
In Rivian’s case, the infotainment system is quite good, and things have improved over time, with the recent switch to Google Maps as the navigation layer and earlier integrations of Spotify and other well-known apps.
The company has argued that adding CarPlay and Android Auto would make things more complicated for owners, as the driver would need to jump from one interface to another to do basic things like open the front trunk. But some people just can’t live without these smartphone mirroring systems, and it was just a matter of time until someone found a way to integrate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into Rivian’s adventure-oriented EVs.
While early attempts at offering the two features involved adding an extra screen on top of the car’s touchscreen, this new device–called EV Play–taps into the car’s native interface to offer wired and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
It’s the brainchild of Amprocity, a tiny California company that started working on the Android-based box last year, after its founder was involved in an accident while texting and driving. After a year of work, the device, which costs $399, can now be pre-ordered, with a refundable deposit of $99 being required.
There’s also a $36 annual subscription, but that’s purely optional, as the company’s website states in its frequently asked questions section. Without the subscription, owners will have a fully functioning device, but access to new feature updates, an extended warranty and priority technical support will not be available.
The EV Play device is compatible with both Gen1 and Gen2 R1S and R1T EVs, and the installation process is quite straightforward, as shown in the official video guide. A couple of fuse taps need to be installed, and the Android-based box needs to tap into the car’s video and CAN bus connectors to make everything work. A wireless keyboard and a WiFi dongle can also be installed in the device’s USB ports, and there’s a separate USB port just for wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections.
Once everything is up and running, a wireless one-button remote is used to switch between the car’s native user interface and the EV Play interface, but the touchscreen is functional. Moreover, on Gen2 cars, the display automatically switches to the native system when going into Reverse, to display the rear-view camera.
Overall, this is a neat integration. And because this is an Android-based device, it has access to the Google Play app store, meaning owners can install just about any app imaginable, from Spotify and Netflix to Grand Theft Auto and Microsoft Word.
