Rivian Adds Another Unique Selling Point To R1T And R1S

Integrating modern technology into a car might not seem like a big deal to some older enthusiasts. Still, to younger customers, a simple oversight like not having Apple CarPlay or Android Auto could be a dealbreaker. Smartphone integration revolutionized how we interact with cars, and Rivian is not planning to be left behind.

We're now entering the next generation of app integration, and the audio streaming service, TuneIn, is making some serious waves. It's currently the most extensive audio streaming service of its kind globally, granting users access to live radio, news channels, sports broadcasts, and podcasts.

Listeners can currently tune in to more than 100,000 local radio stations wherever they are in the world. That's not counting the number of podcasts the listener has access to.

Given how quickly the automotive industry picked up smartphone integration, it's disappointing that only Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Tesla have offered TuneIn access thus far. Rivian is the latest name to join that list, not that it needed another reason to lure customers.

"We are incredibly excited to be adding Rivian to our existing lineup of automotive and connected car technology partners," said Richard Stern, CEO of TuneIn. "At TuneIn, we're working with the world's most innovative automotive companies to reinvent radio and live premium audio entertainment for the connected car. Our deep partnerships in the automotive industry enable drivers to discover and access the best audio content from around the world through their dashboard via a simple touch or voice command via Alexa."

"Over the last few years, we've seen a tremendous amount of innovation in the auto infotainment space," said Jennifer Collins, senior vice president of business development at TuneIn. "At TuneIn, we are bringing this same level of customization and ease of use to in-car audio entertainment."

Rivian's latest move to keep the R1T and R1S as relevant as possible comes from TuneIn's partnership with Harman. Harman is known for working on in-car entertainment for upcoming autonomous vehicles while simultaneously updating its Ignite Store. The latter is a connected vehicle platform that allows manufacturers like Rivian to create their in-vehicle app stores.