New Apple CarPlay: will manufacturers install it in their models?

Last June, the brand with the bitten apple unveiled the latest version of CarPlay at its worldwide developers conference. Until now, Apple’s systems were limited to the central screens that handled information and entertainment, but now the new version will be able to work on all of the car’s screens, including the digital instrument cluster, and, as Apple has confirmed, “it communicates with the vehicle’s systems in real time”.

Car manufacturers may need to upgrade their infotainment systems to make them compatible with the latest full version of Apple CarPlay. The updated CarPlay system from Apple also offers a wide range of customization options for users. For example, widgets can be added to a car’s screen, as well as weather information and contacts from the address book, just as on a Mac.

This is what the new Apple CarPlay will look like

For the moment, the intentions of car manufacturers regarding the implementation of the new version of the system are unknown. Some sources have stated that “car manufacturers know that vehicle data will prove to be a major driver of profits in the coming years, and McKinsey & Co estimates that vehicle data could be worth up to 400 billion dollars a year by 2030”.

Apple has said that it is “working with car manufacturers around the world” on the updated version of CarPlay, but it is not clear who these car manufacturers are. Although Apple has shown logos of companies such as Ford, Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai at the Worldwide Developers Conference, these brands have so far not committed to using the system.

Andrew Brudnicki, spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz in the United States, has stated that “we internally evaluate all new potentially relevant technologies and features. In this context, we are also having conversations with Apple”. Google is a step ahead of Apple with its information and entertainment system, Android Automotive. The operating system is already used by General Motors, Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Polestar, but unlike the new version of Apple CarPlay, these car manufacturers can build their own infotainment systems around the Android Automotive operating system.

According to Roger Lanctot, Director of Automotive Connected Mobility at Strategy Analytics, Apple is unlikely to offer this kind of flexibility for its system. “Google has taken many steps to improve its transparency and make its roadmap clear. Apple is worse than Google when it comes to inflexibility. But Apple will certainly tell car manufacturers that their customers are crying out for an Apple-like experience”.