New Delhi: Quite a few top carmakers, including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo, Polestar, and Renault, have reportedly ruled out incorporating Apple’s next-gen CarPlay Ultra system in their upcoming models. This comes in opposition to previous expectations following Apple’s unveiling of the new-gen in-car experience in 2022.
Apple had placed CarPlay Ultra as a leap from the standard CarPlay system, which would offer control over all in-car displays, which would include the instrument cluster. Quite a few European automakers, though, are against giving Apple all the extensive controls over their digital ecosystems.
Carmakers have different viewpoint on Apple CarPlay Ultra
However, there remain some carmakers, including the likes of Hyundai, Kia, Porsche and Genesis, which continue to commit to including the CarPlay Ultra system to their offerings. Jaguar have said that they are keeping it in consideration, making their place somewhere in between acceptance and guarded. The Likes of Ford, Nissan and Infinity, who were included in Apple’s list of partners in 2022, are yet to comment, though haven’t ruled completely against the new system.
Honda and Acura have been reported to be on their way to implement the new system in future vehicles.
CarPlay Ultra is intended to take Apple’s user interface beyond the infotainment screen and into the instrument cluster, displaying important data like speed, battery/fuel levels and climate controls through Apple’s software in place of the automaker’s native design. At present, cars like Aston Martin DBX have it and require an iPhone 12 or newer running iOS 18.5 or later with a wireless connection, starting the interface on vehicle start-up automatically.
Apple’s iOS 26 update, which is expected in September or October, will include updates to both standard CarPlay and CarPlay Ultra. Features that will be new include updated UI brackets, compact calling notifications, Live Activities and ‘Tapback’ emojis as reactions in Messages.
The reluctance of some auto OEMs to adopt the CarPlay Ultra reflects the growing divide between carmakers and tech companies regarding ownership of the in-car digital experience, which has taken centre stage in both modern vehicles and expectations from consumers.
In a Financial Times report, a Renault executive even told Apple that they don’t want anyone to “invade their system” which shows the fear Automobile manufacturers have over losing control in user experience, vehicle data and even system design. Plus, all cars if have the same interface and displays, then cars could begin to lose their individuality.