Echoing his previous comments on the matter, Scaringe said Rivian is focused on offering a "seamless digital experience," where customers do not need to switch between its own software and CarPlay.

"Going without" apparently is seamless.

The old suction cup phone charger is seamless indeed. Just stick it on the screen.

Why the ceo of a struggling startup wants to die on this hill is baffling. I understand it from GM’s MBA idiots.

Sadly that's not really a solution as it would block you from using HVAC climate controls.

Touchscreen HVAC is a great way for me to quickly ascertain whether I will consider purchasing the vehicle.

I'm not a fan (no pun) of touchscreen HVAC either, but if the choice is an otherwise substantially worse vehicle to the criteria that matters to me, I'll bear with the touchscreen controls. Doing otherwise would be cutting off your nose to spite your face, no?

Physical controls while driving is just much safer.

If your criteria is to be less safe, let me know which sidewalks you'll be near so I can avoid them.

It is more complicated than touch screen hvac = no buy. Temp controls need to be tactile, but the direction of the air doesn’t matter so much, if the car manages that properly. I have had one car which was adequately designed such that I almost never adjusted the temperature setting. Most cars I do need to adjust on a fairly regular basis. I’m referring exclusively to a system that tries to hold a temperature, not the old school sliders.

I absolutely need defrost controls to be tactile (and heated seats, probably). There’s too many cars that do have that available (alongside windshield wipers and signal lights, hello Tesla) that I don’t need to compromise on essential controls.

So rivian is off the list - if they made a vehicle I wanted in the first place, I might be disappointed!

Physical controls while driving is just much safer.

I agree, but that fractional safety isn't the only factor in deciding what car to buy, or at least it shouldn't be.

If your criteria is to be less safe, let me know which sidewalks you’ll be near so I can avoid them.

Oh sweet summer child! You think that HVAC control distraction are even a rounding error of risk from distracted drivers behind the wheel? It is rare that I ever drive during the day I don't see someone actively holding their phone in their hand to visually use it, and its not a quick glance, but miles of watching their phone of who-knows-what.

If you're primarily worried about drivers of cars with touch screen HVAC controls instead of distracted phone drivers, you're not doing a great job of personal risk assessment.

So rivian is off the list - if they made a vehicle I wanted in the first place, I might be disappointed!

So you're posting in a Rivian community to....tell people you never liked the vehicles and would never consider owning one in the first place? Congrats?

Oh good point lmao I was scrolling all.

No worries, I admit I've been guilty of the same thing. Fair warning, that a small number communities have specific rules for posting in them and you may run afoul of the rules unintentionally (this community isn't one of them that I'm aware of).