Rivian has ceased supporting Amazon’s Alexa on all its vehicles. The automaker is replacing the voice assistant with an in-house solution requiring a monthly subscription.
Drivers who have been talking to their Rivian vehicles through Amazon’s Alexa will now have to do it through the Rivian Assistant. The EV company has retired the popular voice assistant in favour of its own solution. It sent out an email informing owners of the change, which took effect on August 4.
Rivian Assistant is bundled with Connect+, which costs $14.99 per month or $148.99 per year. The assistant is built on Google’s Gemini.
Integrating Alexa into Rivian vehicles was natural, as Amazon is the company’s second-largest shareholder. However, Rivian charted its own path when it unveiled its own assistant late last year, targeting an early 2026 release. Rivian Assistant, which first showed up in documentation in May, has since received major updates.
Rivian Assistant helps drivers control the vehicle and plan navigation. It can also handle phone calls and text messages for a hands-free driving experience. Customers can test the assistant by signing up for a Connect+ trial.
With Alexa now gone, Rivian cars no longer integrate Amazon Music. However, the company has promised a native app. Before the app arrives, drivers can stream content from their phone via Bluetooth.
Even without a Connect+ subscription, drivers can still initiate phone calls from the car display through Bluetooth. However, owners who don’t subscribe will no longer be able to control their car with their voice.
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