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Rivian ’s chief software ship’s officer Wassym Bensaid opened up at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 last calendar week about his thoughts on forcible buttons ( “ an anomaly “ ) and how his company will helppower VW offshoot Scout ’s EVs . But there ’s one other item on his to - do list that he ’s “ extremely frantic ” about : making Rivian ’s vehicle forge with third - political party app developers .
“ Eventually I see us delivering APIs and having an ecosystem of partners who develop their own apps , and I ’m super excited to see those , ” Bensaid told TechCrunch on the sidelines of the case .
Rivian embracing a third - political party developer ecosystem helps explicate why it ’s been so outspoken aboutnot incorporate phone mirroring featureslike CarPlay . Like General Motors , Rivian desire to not only customize its in - railroad car experience , but create a software environment where all kinds of unlike software can work with and on the vehicle ’s software , potentially leading to new revenue chance .
Tesla softly launched a courtly API in late 2023 that has allowed developers to work up tightly integrate applications . For instance , TezLab is a company that has aStrava - like earpiece appthat rent Tesla owners see all kinds of statistic about their vehicle ’s drive , shelling health , and more .
Bensaid said Rivian has already address with TezLab ( Rivian vehicle are already available on TezLab ’s political program ) and that the car manufacturer is “ talk with others , ” though he declined to name them . He say Rivian still has some work to do to accomplish a more robust and well - documented software ontogenesis outfit for developer to play with — something he said he thinks is maybe just a few “ quarters ” of engineering work away .
“ I am a big believer in mould with the ecosystem , working with overt source , enabling other developer to be originative , and also tell us and inform us of how we can meliorate things , ” he say .
