How Software is Refining the Automobile
At the intersection of connectivity and software-defined vehicles, the award-winning Rivian R1T (Gen 2) is the most versatile go-anywhere EV truck on the market. I love to head out to the Sonoma Coast to take photos. No more than 30 minutes from home, my Rivian can handle most terrain.
In recent years my friendship with Christian Borrman has grown, our interests in MVNOs, IoT, connected car, electric vehicle (EV) and autonomy spaces have evolved along similar paths, and we have shared many conversations. In this interview, we share thoughts on EVs and connected cars, and my recent experience with the Rivian R1T EV.
Borrman: Today I’m speaking with Whitey Bluestein, my friend, longtime connected car expert and mobile industry veteran, about one of the most fascinating shifts in the automotive world — the rise of the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) and how Over-the-Air (OTA) updates are changing the way we think about cars.
Bluestein: Thank you, Christian. It’s an exciting time to discuss this transformation. Cars are finally catching up with our smartphones in terms of software evolution, and connectivity is enabling remarkable advancements.
From Dealer Visits to Digital Updates
Borrman: You receive monthly software updates — not on your phone, but on your Rivian truck. These updates go beyond bug fixes and security updates. How does this work?
Bluestein: The latest update didn’t come from a dealership; it arrived over the air, ready for a one-click install while my Rivian was parked in the driveway. No appointment, no waiting room coffee, no downtime. Over-the-Air updates aren’t new, but what’s new is the architecture behind these vehicles. Zonal architecture makes these updates seamless and powerful by replacing scores of small, specialized computers that monitor and control specific vehicle functions with a few powerful zones. This simplifies wiring, speeds up repairs, and creates a platform built for OTA updates. These updates add new features and can enhance virtually all aspects of the driving experience. Tesla pioneered this, and Rivian (and other EV players) are building on this. Here’s a summary of recent Rivian’s monthly updates to see how extensive they can be.
Borrman: So, the car itself has become a platform with its own operating system, like a smartphone on wheels?
Bluestein: Precisely. In today’s tech world, software defines the user experience — whether it’s security, performance, refinements or new features. When your vehicle’s platform is designed for connectivity, everything from autonomous driving, comfort and safety to non-mechanical recalls can be pushed out OTA. Connectivity ensures that your car, like your phone or camera, gets better over time.
Software-Defined Vehicles: A New Breed of Car
Borrman: Which companies are leading this “software-first” approach?
Bluestein: Tesla and Rivian are the best-known, but China’s Xiaomi is also making headlines with its SU7 sedan. These companies are designing and building Software-Defined Vehicles from the ground up. Instead of bolting on tech afterward, they’re creating vertically integrated platforms — motors, batteries, electronics, safety, climate, and infotainment — all designed to work together and evolve for the better through software updates.
Borrman: So, the hardware is just one part of the story.
Bluestein: Exactly. The traditional idea that your car loses value the minute you drive it off the lot still holds true physically — but not technologically. When your car is designed for ongoing software refinement, its features, performance, and even resale value can increase over time.
Legacy Automakers Join the Race
Borrman: It’s not just startups doing this. Established automakers don’t want to be left behind, and are adapting too, right?
Bluestein: Absolutely. Volkswagen, BMW, and GM are heavily investing in SDV platforms. VW has VW.OS, BMW has iDrive 8.5, and GM is developing Ultifi. Volvo has its Polestar EV unit. Volkswagen, the second largest automaker in the world, invested $5.8 billion in Rivian last year and the two have a Silicon Valley technology venture. Through that partnership, Audi will launch its first vehicles built entirely on Rivian’s software platform starting in 2028. The partners have finalized the architecture for the first wave of vehicles, which includes an Audi model, Scout Motors’s first EV, and the Volkswagen ID.E The partnership hopes to sell the EV platform technology they’re developing to other carmakers in the future. It’s a major signal that software has become central to automotive strategy. Legacy automakers are looking to new entrants to lead the way.
The Rivian Experience
Borrman: How are you enjoying your Rivian R1T and what’s it like to have a vehicle that updates itself every month?
Bluestein: It’s game changing. My R1T — Edmunds’ Top Rated Electric Truck for 2025 — receives significant monthly updates. Rivian has added new driving modes, UI improvements, bug fixes, navigation enhancements, autonomy, even fresh entertainment options. Thousands of owners eagerly await each update, and many users chime in on their personal feature wish list. Rivian’s software leadership is very transparent — the Chief Software Designer interacts with owners on social media about upcoming releases and acknowledges owner ideas that are included in upcoming updates. Of course, with such an active owner’s community, which Rivian fosters, not every suggestion is adopted, but Rivian encourages and listens to owners. What a concept!
Apple CarPlay and the Battle for the Dashboard
Borrman: EV makers like Tesla and Rivian have shunned Apple CarPlay altogether, although Tesla recently hinted that it might offer CarPlay running in a window. General Motors has announced it will gradually remover support for CarPlay and Android Auto in future vehicles. And CarPlay Ultra has not been embraced by industry leaders, as Apple expected.
Bluestein: Exactly. Both Tesla and Rivian have rejected CarPlay, although Tesla has recently hinted that it might offer CarPlay running in a window rather than giving it full control. Tesla sees its in-car infotainment system as a competitive advantage and wants to retain control over it. Rivian has reiterated that it has no plans to support Apple CarPlay either. Rivian’s philosophy is to deliver a seamless, native experience built around its own software. They’re integrating major apps like Rivian Navigation with Google Maps, Apple Music, Spotify directly, and even YouTube – while not driving.
Borrman: So, it’s about control of the digital experience?
Bluestein: Exactly. Automakers don’t want Apple — or anyone else — controlling the in-car experience, dictating the ecosystem or owning the customer relationship. Data, brand identity, and user experience are all at stake.
Borrman: What’s your take on the Rivian’s infotainment experience?
Bluestein: My experience so far has been that all the entertainment content I want is easily accessible and Google Maps is a far superior navigation system as implemented by Rivian versus CarPlay, which defaults to Apple Maps. The only thing missing, which is coming soon, is messaging. Bottom line: CarPlay is no loss given Rivian’s (and Tesla’s) infotainment implementations.
Sustainability Beyond the Battery
Borrman: In my work, sustainability is very important, and not just about emissions, but also about longevity of the products we use.
Bluestein: Absolutely. Just because you have a smartphone on wheels doesn’t mean that it needs to be replaced every two or three years! Quite the opposite. Sustainability is about reducing waste, extending a product’s usefulness and minimizing desecration of the planet. EVs already cut emissions — no tailpipes, no gasoline — but they’re also mechanically simpler. A traditional 4-cylinder gas engine has 200–400 moving parts, including a transmission, differential, driveshaft, axles, belts, hoses; an EV motor has only a few parts. No oil changes, no tune ups, minimal maintenance. And EVs convert up to 90% of their battery energy into motion. Regenerative braking even recovers energy, extending range by as much as 20 percent. And the ability to refresh and enhance vehicle capabilities and features OTA are all better for the planet. Rivian has sustainability and renewable resources as a goal and an important part of its culture.
Borrman: And the data backs this up?
Bluestein: Yes. A UC Berkeley study found that EV adoption in the San Francisco Bay Area reduced CO₂ emissions by 1.8% annually between 2018 and 2022 — that’s huge. And a Global EV Drivers Alliance survey showed that 92% of EV owners would buy another one. Once people make the switch, they rarely go back.
Connectivity and the Bigger Antenna
Borrman: You’ve been involved in connected car technology for many years. What’s changed since those early days?
Bluestein: My first connected car was the 2015 Audi A3 — the first U.S. car with built-in 4G LTE. My truck is a massive 7,000-pound antenna that pulls a much stronger signal than my 8.2-ounce smartphone on the same network. Mobile operators like AT&T capitalized on this trend and became early leaders in vehicle connectivity. Rivian’s Connect+ subscription on AT&T offers continuous data for streaming, navigation and faster OTA updates.
Global Players and Challenges Ahead
Borrman: What about Chinese EVs? China is investing a lot and seems to be moving fast in the EV race.
Bluestein: They are. Chinese EVs are far cheaper because of government subsidies and lower safety standards. Technologically, they’re very advanced — their infotainment systems often put Western cars to shame with ultrawide HD displays, karaoke, in-car gaming, even mini-fridges. It’s no wonder they’re dominating at home, though global expansion is limited by safety standards, trade tensions and tariffs.
Policy, Incentives, and the Future of Innovation
Borrman: Speaking of policy, what’s your take on the loss of the Federal EV tax credit?
Bluestein: It has been a setback to the industry, especially considering that Tesla, Rivian and many other EV makers are building factories and creating thousands of jobs right here in the U.S. Elon Musk was right to call its elimination “incredibly destructive.” Removing the $7,500 Federal EV and clean energy credits — while oil and gas subsidies remain — undermines U.S. innovation. The combination of tariffs, economic uncertainty, and shrinking incentives threatens to slow sales and hiring. The U.S. risks falling behind just as the rest of the world accelerates into the EV era.
Rethinking Cars
Borrman: So, bottom line — what does all this mean for drivers?
Bluestein: It means we need to rethink what a “new car” really is. Today’s EVs — quiet, clean, software-driven — are no longer static machines. They’re dynamic digital platforms, refined and continuously improving long after they leave the factory. We’re witnessing a shift from cars as products to cars as evolving experiences.
Final Thoughts
Borrman: Any other observations on this space?
Bluestein: I’m very interested in new industry evolution and corporate culture. I’ve met more than a dozen people from executives to delivery and service center techs at Rivian, and found that many of them came from Tesla, Apple, and other EV companies. As one Rivian exec said, “I’ve watched so many former colleagues [from Tesla] go to Lucid, Scout, Slate, Polestar and other EV players, each bringing experience and perspective to these new companies.” It reminded me how the telecoms, mobile and IoT spaces have developed over the years. These are exciting times. Bottom line: EVs are here to stay, are superior to internal combustion engines in every way, and will help us replace fossil fuels as quickly as possible.
Thank you, Christian!
About Christian Borrman:
Christian Borrman is first a fellow Mobile and MVNO expert, who has spent the last decade connecting vehicles in IoT and Private Networks and the transition to electric vehicles and SDV in IoT, Private Networks and creating the future of smaller EVs: the eCargo bike and working on Automated Electric Vehicles (AEVs) as well as making the fastest Private 5G networks on wheels. Read more at Virtuser.
