It’s been almost a 12 months since Apple unveiled its iOS 16 roadmap at its June 2022 Worldwide Builders Convention. Whereas many of the promised options have now arrived within the sequence of level releases which have adopted, there’s one large one we’re nonetheless ready on: Apple’s new “CarPlay 2.0” platform.
After all, this one isn’t solely as much as Apple; the bold and futuristic new CarPlay design requires that automakers get on board to permit even deeper integration into their in-car infotainment and electronics programs, and that’s a a lot taller order than merely presenting a customized iPhone UI in your dashboard.
With CarPlay 2.0, Apple is giving us a glimpse of what the dashboard of a future Apple Automotive might appear to be, with the power to take over the whole dashboard throughout a number of shows, rendering even gauges from a normal instrument cluster by way of the CarPlay interface. It additionally guarantees to let your iPhone monitor and management a lot of your in-car programs, from the automobile’s efficiency stats to the local weather management system.
This requires automakers to work with Apple to design “glass cockpits” for his or her autos appropriate for the brand new CarPlay design and supply all the mandatory hooks to entry in-car programs.
To be honest, there’s no motive to imagine that CarPlay 2.0 is not on time — Apple stated from the start that we shouldn’t anticipate the primary supported vehicles to be introduced till late 2023 — however each the business and the rumor mill have been quiet sufficient about it to boost at the least a number of questions.
When and The place Is CarPlay 2.0 Coming?
For one factor, Apple claimed to be working with a powerful listing of carmakers to convey this to fruition, together with Ford, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti, Honda, Acura, Jaguar, Land Rover, Audi, Nissan, Volvo, Porsche, and extra. Whereas a number of, like GM, have been conspicuous by their absence, that’s much less of a shock in hindsight.
Regardless of Apple’s announcement, many of those corporations have been noncommittal at greatest when requested about their plans. Solely 4 even tacitly dedicated to embracing the brand new CarPlay. BMW was most particular, saying it could “proceed the seamless integration of Apple’s ecosystem” and consider “how the most recent improvements introduced at WWDC will be built-in into our options.” Volvo and Polestar stated they plan to help the brand new CarPlay however supplied no specifics about when it could be coming to their autos. Mercedes-Benz confirmed it was having discussions with Apple as a routine a part of its coverage to judge “all doubtlessly related new applied sciences.”
As with most new automobile applied sciences, it appears unlikely CarPlay 2.0 will probably be a widespread rollout from even Apple’s most devoted companions. As an example, whereas BMW has all the time led the way in which in Apple integration, from wi-fi CarPlay to Automotive Key, the extra superior Extremely Wideband model stays restricted to the BMW X1 and new BMW iX1. That duo appears possible candidates for CarPlay 2.0, however the remainder of the BMW household is a query mark, at the least within the brief time period.
In an fascinating twist, Ford may find yourself being a darkish horse on this race. The automaker had no remark final 12 months about plans for CarPlay 2.0, and lots of haven’t been holding out a lot hope for an Apple partnership after it introduced two years in the past that it was cozying up with Google to have its automotive programs operating completely on Android.
Though CarPlay 2.0 may possible nonetheless run on an Android basis, Ford additionally meant to supply “Google apps and providers built-in to our autos, together with world-class map and voice expertise.” It appears unlikely the 2 corporations would go to the trouble of constructing in Google Maps and Google Assistant simply to allow them to be pushed apart by the brand new CarPlay system. It additionally sounds precisely like what GM is doing in pushing out CarPlay completely.
Nevertheless, regardless of Ford’s guarantees to convey Android Automotive to at the least a few of its 2023 fashions, Google’s Vehicles web page nonetheless lists the producer as “Coming Quickly.” It could be telling that Ford’s announcement of its partnership with Google additionally got here six months earlier than former Apple government Doug Area took the helm.
Area spent a number of years heading up “Undertaking Titan” — Apple’s bold challenge to create its personal self-driving automotive. He joined Apple in 2018 from Tesla, the place he was a Senior VP of Engineering, however he had additionally served as a VP of product design and engineering with Apple from 2008 to 2013 previous to his time with Tesla.
In 2021, Area shocked the business when he left Apple to function “chief superior expertise and embedded programs officer” for Ford — a place that has him reporting on to the President and CEO.
In that place, Area is liable for overseeing “the following technology of Ford’s linked merchandise and experiences,” which might certainly embody integration and partnerships with Apple and Google. With almost a decade underneath his belt as a senior government at Apple, he undoubtedly has some concepts about what path Ford ought to go in.
Whereas it’s possible pushed mainly by advertising spin within the aftermath of GM’s announcement that it could be abandoning CarPlay, Ford not too long ago issued a press release to 9to5Mac recommitting to the expertise, particularly inside its EVs.
After all, it’s nonetheless a stretch from “We proceed to supply Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as a result of prospects love the aptitude” to going all-in on CarPlay 2.0. Nevertheless, Ford is without doubt one of the corporations on Apple’s listing of companions. If nothing else, the presence of Doug Area as the important thing decision-maker offers Apple a longtime relationship inside Ford’s partitions.