Rivian is doubling down on voice control and has no plans to reintroduce physical buttons, even as other automakers reverse course.
Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Hyundai have all responded to customer demand by bringing back physical controls. Rivian, however, believes its advanced AI-driven voice assistant is a superior solution.
Voice as Primary Interface
Wassym Bensaid, Rivian's chief software officer and co-CEO of the Rivian-VW joint venture, told The Verge that voice should be the primary way drivers interact with their cars.
“I deeply believe that voice has the chance to be the primary interface in the car,” Bensaid said.
“Buttons can exist, but they shouldn’t be the primary way with which you interact with the car.”
He added that voice allows users to perform multiple functions without fiddling with various controls.
“A great voice experience can elevate all of that, allow users to talk to the car as a human would,” he said.
Rivian's new Assistant, which rolled out to existing R1 models in mid-May, is built on a multimodal AI foundation and can handle core vehicle functions, including HVAC.
Scroll Wheels Replace HVAC Buttons in R2
The upcoming Rivian R2 eliminates traditional HVAC buttons entirely.
Instead, large scroll wheels on the steering wheel let drivers adjust settings like fan speed on the fly.
Bensaid noted that scroll wheels are a better solution than tapping small icons on a touchscreen. While not quite buttons, they offer a tactile alternative.
Rivian argues that previous voice technology was fundamentally broken.
“The only reason that drivers and consumers do not interact with the car through voice is that, to put it really bluntly, the technology has been broken,” a company representative said.
Unlike many competitors, Rivian's infotainment system is Android-based and does not support Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
This allows the AI assistant to work seamlessly regardless of what screen is displayed.
The system takes a conversational approach.
Instead of saying “Open the frunk,” a driver can say “I have a bag in the front of the car,” and the assistant will pop the frunk.
Rivian remains committed to a button-free interior, betting that its voice assistant will win over drivers.
