Latest news with #WassymBensaid
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Rivian's Impressive Infotainment Update Isn't The One Drivers Really Want
Rivian has introduced a new navigation system for its R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV. The latest system will rely on Google Maps instead of the older Mapbox-based maps setup. Integrated into the Rivian infotainment system, the new navigation will allow drivers to more seamlessly get to their next destination. The latest setup works a bit differently to Google's other automotive integrations, such as Google Built-In and Android Auto. Rather, this change combines the best of Google Maps with Rivian's own user experience. Using Rivian Navigation with Google Maps, drivers will be able to tap into top features like traffic updates, satellite imagery, estimated arrival times, and smart routing. Being an EV company, Rivian has made sure the latest system supports functionality that is specifically relevant to EV owners, from charger stop selection to range on arrival estimates and charging scores. Fresh routes and traffic will not only help drivers find the fastest route, but by consistently surveying traffic patterns, it will reroute you if a better route becomes available. Another new function is the ability to tap on points of interest on the map, quickly learning more about specific places, such as operating hours and reviews. Real-time information communicates any road disruptions, and satellite imagery provides a clear view of your position in a specific city or suburb. Related: 2025 Rivian R1T and R1S First Drive: Under-the-skin changes reap rewards Whether you're using the Rivian Mobile app or are sitting in the driver's seat interacting with the large display, several new or updated EV features are available. The estimated range on arrival better allows you to plan journeys, and will even factor in the use of specialized accessories or trailers. EV drivers know that not all charging points or stations are reliable, so Rivian owners can now use a charging score to determine if a certain charging point has a high score, based on reliability. This can save you time, as the chances of stopping at a non-functional charging station are lower. From green parks to deep blue lakes, the design language of the map has also been updated, making it more pleasant to use and look at. "Rivian as a brand at its core, is meant to inspire customers to go explore the world and get to places they never thought they would," said Wassym Bensaid, Chief Software Officer at Rivian. "The core enabler for that is a great navigation application." As much as the new Google Maps collaboration is welcomed, Rivian still doesn't offer full Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in its vehicles; it does offer access to Apple Music and now the maps feature is better, but the full functionality of the smartphone-mirroring technologies is still missing, even as Apple CarPlay evolves. These features are now offered on the vast majority of new vehicles in the U.S. and are in high demand from the average car buyer, so it's a pity they still aren't available. A petition even exists for Rivian to introduce these smartphone-mirroring functions into new Rivians. The automaker wants to maintain control over its software, which is part of the reason for the omission. A few tech gurus have found a workaround to get Apple CarPlay/Android Auto to work in Rivians, but it would be far more convenient if these features were installed from the factory. At least Rivian owners are more likely to get to their next destination without any hiccups. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rivian taps Google to bring custom maps into its EVs and app
For 18 months, Rivian and Google engineers worked together. Today, they're showing off their work. Rivian is pushing out a software update that will bring a unique version of Google Maps into its EVs. It's the latest step in Rivian's continued effort to distinguish its vehicles with software — an effort that has helped it strike up a joint venture with one of the world's biggest automakers, Volkswagen. This isn't a typical the Google Maps integration and it's unlike the tech company's other collaborations in the automotive sector. For years, Google has pushed into automotive through its smartphone projection app called Android Auto as well as Google built-in, an Android Automotive operating system that integrates Google services directly into the vehicle and is used by automakers like Volvo. The collaboration with Rivian is neither. Instead, Rivian customers who use the in-car navigation will no longer see the Mapbox-based maps. Now, they'll see Google Maps, but with a lot of Rivian DNA sprinkled on top, including its trip planner, user interface and design, and EV charger locations, according to Rivian's chief of software Wassym Bensaid. 'We obviously closely watch customer feedback, and I think one of the areas where we had some level of criticism was navigation,' Bensaid said. The company could have tried to incrementally improve its existing in-car navigation. Instead, it started working with Google to launch a new product. Rivian's challenge: it didn't just want the default Google Maps application. 'Google really wanted to embrace a new model of collaboration with a more open integration down to the API levels for Google Maps, and that required working with a tech partner on that journey to integrate both solutions, and I think we're really super happy with the result of this collaboration,' he said. The new maps feature will include estimated time of arrival, traffic updates, place information, and satellite imagery from Google Maps, all of which is integrated into Rivian's navigation system. The in-car navigation will also include tappable points of interest. Carrying over Rivian's trip planner is crucial as it showcases EV range estimates and charging stop selection, all powered by A Better Routeplanner. Other Rivian features like its 'range on arrival,' charging stops and preferences, and the EV maker's charging score, which gives a rating for individual charging sites based on plug-in data from Rivian vehicles, have also been folded into the Google Maps. The new Google-based maps will start to roll out today via a software update in Rivian vehicles and its mobile app. The updated Rivian mobile app will include additional trip planning features as well. Rivian said it added place photos, place descriptions and satellite view (with a Connect+ subscription), as well as the ability to see traffic and traffic incidents in the app. Users can also continue to share destinations and trips from the Rivian mobile app to their vehicle.
TechCrunch
6 days ago
- Automotive
- TechCrunch
Rivian taps Google to bring custom maps into its EVs and app
For 18 months, Rivian and Google engineers worked together. Today, they're showing off their work. Rivian is pushing out a software update that will bring a unique version of Google Maps into its EVs. It's the latest step in Rivian's continued effort to distinguish its vehicles with software — an effort that has helped it strike up a joint venture with one of the world's biggest automakers, Volkswagen. This isn't a typical the Google Maps integration and it's unlike the tech company's other collaborations in the automotive sector. For years, Google has pushed into automotive through its smartphone projection app called Android Auto as well as Google built-in, an Android Automotive operating system that integrates Google services directly into the vehicle and is used by automakers like Volvo. The collaboration with Rivian is neither. Instead, Rivian customers who use the in-car navigation will no longer see the Mapbox-based maps. Now, they'll see Google Maps, but with a lot of Rivian DNA sprinkled on top, including its trip planner, user interface and design, and EV charger locations, according to Rivian's chief of software Wassym Bensaid. 'We obviously closely watch customer feedback, and I think one of the areas where we had some level of criticism was navigation,' Bensaid said. The company could have tried to incrementally improve its existing in-car navigation. Instead, it started working with Google to launch a new product. Rivian's challenge: it didn't just want the default Google Maps application. 'Google really wanted to embrace a new model of collaboration with a more open integration down to the API levels for Google Maps, and that required working with a tech partner on that journey to integrate both solutions, and I think we're really super happy with the result of this collaboration,' he said. Techcrunch event LIVE NOW! TechCrunch All Stage Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW The new maps feature will include estimated time of arrival, traffic updates, place information, and satellite imagery from Google Maps, all of which is integrated into Rivian's navigation system. The in-car navigation will also include tappable points of interest. Carrying over Rivian's trip planner is crucial as it showcases EV range estimates and charging stop selection, all powered by A Better Routeplanner. Other Rivian features like its 'range on arrival,' charging stops and preferences, and the EV maker's charging score, which gives a rating for individual charging sites based on plug-in data from Rivian vehicles, have also been folded into the Google Maps. The new Google-based maps will start to roll out today via a software update in Rivian vehicles and its mobile app. The updated Rivian mobile app will include additional trip planning features as well. Rivian said it added place photos, place descriptions and satellite view (with a Connect+ subscription), as well as the ability to see traffic and traffic incidents in the app. Users can also continue to share destinations and trips from the Rivian mobile app to their vehicle.
The Drive
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
How Rivian Is Future-Proofing Its EVs 7-10 Years Out
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Buy a Rivian today or tomorrow and it will gain new features, functionality, and different software interfaces for years to come unlike a Toyota or Honda. Rivian Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid told The Drive 'we like to think about 7 to 10 years' in terms of how long the automaker will upgrade the software within its vehicles. And Rivian's baking that plan into the development of its vehicles. Bensaid said the electrical architectures developed, which the automaker's now buttoning up its third that will debut in the smaller R2 electric crossover in 2026, are designed with that 7 to 10 year timeline in terms of headroom for upgradeability. A functional concept not seen anywhere else in the automotive industry outside of Tesla to date. But updates won't stop after just 7 to 10 years, as that timeline is simply limited to functional feature updates. Bensaid said 'for anything related to safety or security, it would go beyond those 7 to 10 years.' Bensaid noted that Rivian is developing its own operating system that runs on multiple sets of hardware and that the beauty of doing things this way, the hard way, is it's flexible and modern enough to run on different versions. 'It's not easy, it requires a lot of work,' Bensaid said. Staying far away from software updates that enable fart noises, Rivian's have gained Soft Sand mode along with low and high regenerative braking settings since the R1T and R1S launched. That's in addition to a myriad of other software updates, including one that redesigned the 15.6-inch touchscreen's user interface. Ford has updated the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E's software multiple times enabling bits of extra functionality through the touchscreen. But the automaker's limited by its electrical architectures and outsourcing of components to simple tweaks. No Ford EV on sale today is going to suddenly ride better because of a free over-the-air (OTA) software update. The same can be said about most EVs on sale in the U.S. for the same reasons. The vertical integration and in-house developed electrical architecture at Rivian has paid dividends in this arena. Rivian R1S Quad performing a Kick Turn Joel Feder Joel Feder The upgradeability will be put further on display later this year. In September the Rivian RAD Tuner software and Kick Turn function will both arrive via a free (OTA) software update, but only for the 2026 R1T and R1S Quad. Cars are expensive. The average transaction price of a new car in May was $48,799 according to Cox Automotive . Trucks and large SUVs cost even more. Bensaid acknowledged cars aren't like smartphones stating, 'this is a big purchase and a lot of our customers will keep their cars for a long time, it's important for us that those cars feel fresh.' Bensaid is right about consumers keeping cars for a long time. The average age of a vehicle on U.S. roads today is 12.8 years, according to a S&P Global report. Sticking to the smartphone comparison, Apple typically provides consistent software updates for 5 to 7 years before deeming a phone obsolete, but it too continues to provide security updates after that timeframe. Addressing concerns of how a software-defined vehicle will operate in 12 years (sticking to that average age of a vehicle on the road today timeline), Bensaid said Rivian's will 'it will absolutely work' but that 'it just will not necessarily get new features.' 'I think that's the point where sometimes people don't necessarily get it, which is like, there will be no degradation, it will not be a brick, it will be a perfectly functioning car,' Bensaid said. Bensaid is open to evolving the mindset. 'We own our own destiny,' the exec said. Today's goal is to continue to update the automaker's vehicle software about every month, but things change. 'Maybe we'll change our opinion,' Bensaid said while noting maybe the automaker shifts its 7 to 10 year software upgradability to '9 to 11 (years).' At least Bensaid went up in terms of years and not down in his theorizing, which is great news for Rivian buyers. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@
The Drive
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Rivian's Slick RAD Tuner Could Come To Other Performance Models
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The new standard in automotive drive mode customization might not be limited to just two vehicles for long depending how things play out at Rivian. I'm saying there's a chance. Sitting inside a 2026 Rivian R1T Quad in Lake Tahoe, California the automaker's Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid told The Drive the new RAD Tuner feature is being considered as a possible upgrade for other models. The RAD Tuner, which is like an equalizer for your EV's powertrain enabling the customization and ability to dial in an ideal drive mode through 10 different performance parameters, would be probably limited to 'performance models,' Bensaid said. Today Rivian offers, by its count, four powertrains: Dual Standard, Dual, Tri, and Quad. Arguably there's a fifth powertrain in the form of the Dual with the $5,000 Performance upgrade, which is really just software uncorking the electric motors to up output, drop the 0-60 mph sprint time, and add drive modes. Bensaid said the Dual Performance, Tri, and Quad are all viewed as 'performance models' internally. Digging in, aside from battery, motor and or power output differences, there's drive mode disparities that seem to be a separation point for what the Rivian team considered a 'performance model.' Dual Standard models only have All-Purpose, Snow, and All-Terrain drive modes. It's not until the Dual Performance model that Rally, Sport, and Soft Sand drive modes become unlocked. Bensaid didn't say it, but it almost seems like whether a Rivian has Sport mode or not is the tipping point to whether it's considered a performance model. 2026 Rivian R1T Quad's RAD Tuner Joel Feder And while the team is talking internally about whether to offer the RAD Tuner, presumably at a cost, in other performance models, it wouldn't be the same. In the Quad the RAD Tuner opens Pandora's Box of variables including acceleration, region, brake assist, steering assist, ride height, torque balance, wheel slip, stability control, damping, and roll stiffness. Bensaid said the Quad's four-motor powertrain enable's this level of control and customization. Dual-motor models with the Performance upgrade or the Tri would have less variables and customization due to less control and fewer motors, Bensaid noted. The software exec would not elaborate which specific variables might be removed in a dubbed-down version of the RAD Tuner for other models. Every R1T and R1S comes standard with adaptive dampers and air suspension and electric power steering. Rivian R2 and R3X Rivian But those three performance variants are soon to be joined by smaller siblings. Next year the Rivian R2 will arrive with single-, dual-, and tri-motor variants. Rivian's previously said the tri-motor variant will do 0-60 mph in under three-seconds. Undoubtedly that model will be considered a 'performance model' by Bensaid and the team. Whether there will be an R2 with a dual-motor performance upgrade is unknown, but I wouldn't bet against it. This is all before the same three powertrains arrive in an even smaller sibling known as R3 … sometime after R2. But given Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has already said the jacked up hot-hatch known as the R3X (think R3 with tri-motor powertrain, all-terrain tires, and a rally-car vibe) will arrive before the Plain Jane R3, the enthusiast excitement is real. So is the Rad Tuner possibilities, apparently. For now, the RAD Tuner will arrive in September for the R1T and R1S Quad as a free over-the-air (OTA) software update. Bensaid wouldn't give a timeline on when the RAD Tuner might be offered in other performance variants. Of course, that's only if the team decides to go that route. The bigger question might become how much will are you willing to pay to get the Rad Tuner in your Rivian? Got a tip? Email us at tips@
