Rivian: The Electric Car Company That Wants to Rob You Blind
In a move that’s sure to infuriate its customers, Rivian has announced that it’s ditching the long-promised phone mirroring feature, Apple CarPlay, in its electric vehicles. But don’t worry, they’ve got a "solution" that will part you from your hard-earned cash. Behold, the new Apple Music streaming support, which will only work if you shell out for a pricey subscription.
The Real Reason: Control and Profit
In a recent interview, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe claimed that CarPlay is a "paid subscription service" that takes control away from automakers. What he really means is that they want to control your wallet and squeeze every last penny out of you. By pushing a subscription-based model, Rivian can rake in even more cash from its customers.
A New Era of Exploitation
The new native Apple Music app is launching alongside Rivian’s "Connect Plus" data subscription, which promises to give you "native app experiences like Apple Music and streaming connectivity no matter where the vehicle travels." But what does this really mean? It means you’ll have to pay a monthly fee to access the same features that were previously included in the base price of the vehicle.
The Not-So-Free Trial
To ease the transition, Rivian is offering a two-month free trial of Connect Plus. But don’t get too excited, because after that, you’ll be charged $14.99 a month or $149.99 annually. And if you don’t want to pay up, you can always try using a separate Wi-Fi hotspot or Bluetooth audio streaming. How quaint.
The Imitation Game
Rivian isn’t the only company pushing customers toward connectivity subscriptions. Tesla, for example, has switched to a $99 per year Premium subscription. But at least they had the decency to grandfather in their early adopters. Rivian, on the other hand, is phasing out its included data services and forcing customers to pay up.
The Only Solution: Rebellion
For those who refuse to be held hostage by Rivian’s subscription fees, there’s only one solution: resist. Demand that your car company of choice prioritize customer needs over profit margins. Until then, you can either pay up or suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous subscription fees.
