July 16, 2025 - Rivian Adopts Google Maps

This is the Telemetry Transportation Daily for July 14, 2025 and I'm Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research for Telemetry.

Startup electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has followed in the footsteps of Tesla on many fronts including direct sales, setting up its own charging network and refusing to include support for smartphone projection systems like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Instead, like Tesla, Rivian insists on creating its own user interface for infotainment making that the only option for customers. Until now, that system has sourced map data from MapBox. Rivian does actually utilize the Android Automotive operating system for its infotainment, but like Stellantis and unlike most other automakers, they forgo the Google Automotive Services suite. That means it didn't include the Google Play store, Google Assistant or Google maps. 

Starting this week, that changes as Rivian has started utilizing Google's map data for its navigation while retaining its own routing engine. This is yet another way that Rivian is copying Tesla which has always licensed its maps from Google as well.  However, they still aren't using Play services, instead partnering with individual developers like Spotify to provide apps to run on its system and Amazon for Alexa voice services. 

The switch to Google Maps will give Rivian drivers access to all of the point of interest information that Google collects and includes in its map database as well as real-time traffic information from the millions of Google Maps and Waze users. Rivian brings the routing capabilities it acquired with A Better Route Planner to help the drivers of its electric vehicles plan road trips including where to charge and for how long while taking into account vehicle data like state of charge and speed.  All of the data is also integrated into Rivian's mobile app for planning before drivers hit the road. 

Robust mapping and navigation capabilities are particularly important for EV drivers to help build confidence about where they are able to charge and how long it will take and map providers like Google, TomTom, Here and Apple are all focusing on enhancing these capabilities in their platforms. 

Thanks for listening.