Rivian, the American EV manufacturer, is integrating Google Maps into its navigation app. The update should provide Rivian owners with more detailed information about their route, disruptions and places they're passing.
These new features include updated traffic data and reroutes if another option turns out to be quicker along your journey. Drivers will also have access to real-time road disruption reports from the Google Maps community. Plus, places of interest should now be available right on the map. Rivian already used Google Maps' information for searching places, but now everything from hours to ratings should show up on the display. The newly available technology also extends to Google Maps' satellite images.
Rivian's navigation app already included features such as range on arrival, charging information and charging stops along your route. The update comes with a new design that Rivian claims has better "glanceability" and "access to information."
The company has faced some setbacks and concerns. In February 2024, Rivian laid off 10 percent of its salaried workforce due to a $1.5 billion loss in the fourth quarter of 2023. Then, in October, a report from Bloomberg questioned the safety record of the EV maker's Illinois factory. The report highlighted a number of injuries at the plant, including an amputated finger, a broken skull and vomiting and dizziness after painting without adequate protections.
Rivian disputed many of Bloomberg's claims, saying at the time that the publication had "misrepresented the facts," and that "initial citations should not be confused as final citations." Bloomberg reported on 16 initially serious OSHA violations in 21 months, and alleged more wrongdoing, though Rivian recieved only two serious final citations from OSHA over the period in question. A Rivian spokesperson further clarified that the data in the story was two years old at the time of publishing and doesn't represent the current state of the company's plant.
Update, July 15, 7:30PM ET: This story was updated after publish to add context around Rivian's plant safety record and statements from the company.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/rivian-adds-google-maps-features-to-its-navigation-app-140033783.html?src=rss
