Rivian is swapping out its old Mapbox navigation for customized Google Maps in a major software update rolling out now. This overhaul is the result of 18 months of collaboration between Rivian and Google engineers.
The new maps won’t just look like Google Maps. They’ll come loaded with Rivian’s own trip planner, user interface tweaks, EV charger locations, and real-time EV range and charging data powered by A Better Routeplanner. Rivian says this integration is deeper than usual, tapping into Google Maps APIs to create a hybrid experience.
Rivian’s chief of software, Wassym Bensaid, gave the reasoning behind the switch. 
“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.
“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.
Features include ETA, traffic updates, satellite imagery, and tappable points of interest — all merged into Rivian’s EV-focused navigation. The EV-specific tools like “range on arrival,” charging stops and preferences, and Rivian’s charging score (which rates chargers based on user data) are baked in.
The update hits Rivian vehicles and their mobile app today. The app also gets a boost with place photos, descriptions, satellite view via the Connect+ subscription, and real-time traffic and incidents. Sharing trips and destinations from the app to the car stays smooth.
This update further pushes Rivian’s push to stand out on software, following its noteworthy deal with Volkswagen on EV tech.
For more on Rivian’s EV tech and software updates, stay tuned.
