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Here's Which Vehicle Brands Will and Won't Offer Apple's CarPlay Ultra

I find Audi/BMW interfaces and software terrible. Not just a little bit awful, but return the car to the dealership awful. I was trying to use Audi’s connect BS in a new RS6 long roof and was so frustrated that basic CarPlay was the only thing that saved the experience for me. Car is amazing software is a dumpster fire.

I would sure like to have Ultra in my driver’s cluster and hud. I’d also like to be able to show my FLIR feed in the CarPlay screen so my copilot could watch for large animals and pedestrians on dark mountain roads.

I don’t want Audi spying on my every move and selling my data. I believe Apple poses fewer privacy concerns and they’ll get my money until that changes.
 
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I think Nissan will probably end in the no colum (assuming they survive their current financial problems) as they do a lot of platform sharing with Renault, who are very much in th Android Automotive camp. It isn’t possible to say what direction Jaguar will take as they don’t currently make any cars and Land Rover currently use an in house system. In the case of Porsche they’ve also said they’ll use Android Automotive as well as Apple CarPlay Ultra, so they should probably be in the maybe column.

It’s is also worth mentioning that BlackBerry launched QNX Cabin earlier this year as a customisable user interface which included things like speech recognition, digital instuments and infotainment systems. For those who don’t know most manufacturers already use QNX for real time systems, such as anti lock brakes and ADAS systems. This means manufacturers already have experience in programming in QNX so there’s less of a skills gap compared to bolting on Apple CarPlay Ultra or Android Automotive (though obviously a fair amount of work to tailor your own system, so only likely to appeal to the big manufacturers).
 
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EugW said:
No, it's because users are not clamouring for CarPlayification of the instrument cluster, and there really isn't a big need for it. Plus it cedes control of the interface to Apple. Car manufacturers don't want to pay Apple for something that doesn't really benefit them, and which only a small minority of customers actually care about, for something that effectively debrands the car.
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The fact that people are spreading this kind of misinformation here just shows how much people misunderstand CarPlay Ultra. It's the opposite of ceding control. It gives carmakers complete control over the interface and dashboard while offloading the software development to people who actually know what they're doing. It's a win-win.
 
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tennisproha said:
The fact that people are spreading this kind of misinformation here just shows how much people misunderstand CarPlay Ultra. It's the opposite of ceding control. It gives carmakers complete control over the interface and dashboard while offloading the software development to people who actually know what they're doing. It's a win-win.
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Yeah, I guess that’s why all the car manufacturers are lining up to implement CarPlay Ultra. /s
 
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tennisproha said:
The fact that people are spreading this kind of misinformation here just shows how much people misunderstand CarPlay Ultra. It's the opposite of ceding control. It gives carmakers complete control over the interface and dashboard while offloading the software development to people who actually know what they're doing. It's a win-win.
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So why is Apple doing it?

You know, the same Apple fighting tooth and nail to make sure not a bit of traffic flows across iPhones without them getting a cut.

Apple is famously not known for pursuing altruistic "win wins" with no expectation of remuneration.
 
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Volvo/Polestar is all in on Android Auto's OS running their cars, not just infotainment so no surprise there.

No auto maker has ever made what can be called a good proprietary Infotainment/Automotive OS except maybe Tesla... and even then, it doesn't play nice with anything people use making it a PIA. All the automakers are chasing subscriptions... most giving them away the first 1-3 years and making you buy them to remote start your car and with poor software.

I do get why they don't want Appe in their wares... but the experience is likely 3000% better than their own.
 
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Kia and Porsche are two of my favorite car brands, so I’m excited for this. Except I’ll probably never be able to justify buying a new 911, so I’ll have to wait until these are well used. And don’t laugh, the Telluride is an excellent upscale family hauler. Kia makes pretty good cars nowadays, compared to the crap they made 15-30 years ago.
 
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MacRumors said:


Apple last month announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles.

CarPlay-Ultra-Climate-Controls.jpg

There was news this week about which automakers will and won't offer CarPlay Ultra, and we have provided an updated list below.

CarPlay Ultra is currently limited to newer Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Fortunately, if you cannot afford a $250,000 luxury vehicle, the software system will eventually be available in more affordable vehicles.

Apple-CarPlay-Ultra-cluster-Maps.jpg

Apple said "many" other automakers around the world plan to offer CarPlay Ultra over the next year and beyond, including Korean brands Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.

Earlier this week, Porsche also reaffirmed its commitment to CarPlay Ultra.

Apple first previewed the next generation ‌of CarPlay‌ all the way back at WWDC 2022, and at the time it shared a long list of automakers that were committed to offering the software system. The list is more than three years old, and it is not entirely accurate anymore.

The list was as follows:
  • Acura
  • Audi
  • Ford
  • Honda
  • Infiniti
  • Jaguar
  • Land Rover
  • Lincoln
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Nissan
  • Polestar
  • Porsche
  • Renault
  • Volvo
According to a report this week from the Financial Times, there are at least five automakers on that list that have since confirmed that they have no plans to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Renault, and Volvo.

All in all, here is where things stand currently.

Currently Offers CarPlay Ultra
  • Aston Martin
Will Offer CarPlay Ultra
  • Hyundai
  • Kia
  • Genesis
  • Porsche
Won't Offer CarPlay Ultra
  • Audi
  • BMW
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Polestar
  • Renault
  • Volvo
General Motors controversially ditched the regular version of CarPlay in its new electric vehicles, so it is likely to pass on CarPlay Ultra too. That means vehicles from brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC are unlikely to offer CarPlay Ultra.

Maybe
  • Honda
  • Acura
  • Ford
  • Lincoln
  • Nissan
  • Infiniti
  • Jaguar
  • Land Rover
Unknown
  • Toyota
  • Lexus
  • Chrysler
  • Dodge
  • Jeep
  • RAM
  • Volkswagen

Article Link: Here's Which Vehicle Brands Will and Won't Offer Apple's CarPlay Ultra
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I don't see the logic in why Apple is pushing there own in-car interface taking over from the cars own interface other than a better design and providing access to Navigation and Music. I cannot see any other benefits. The driver should be paying attention to the road and not some fancy display with notifications popping up!
 
If you buy a European car, you might not want any American software in it. CarPlay should never be preinstalled. There should be an option to install it via a USB stick for those who want it, but people should have the option to by a clean car, where CarPlay is not just deactivated, but not existent.
 
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Skyscraperfan said:
If you buy a European car, you might not want any American software in it. CarPlay should never be preinstalled. There should be an option to install it via a USB stick for those who want it, but people should have the option to by a clean car, where CarPlay is not just deactivated, but not existent.
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Why would anyone care?
 
EugW said:
I will tell everyone that CarPlay Ultra is essentially vapourware for the next several years (Aston Martin doesn't count), and not to waste their time waiting for that feature, which is mostly superfluous anyway.
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Attitude is gratitude.
 
I am a happy Mercedes owner. Except for their horrible MBUX interface.
Mercedes should be happy another company wants to fix their crap.

My next car won’t be a Mercedes if they won’t support this.
 
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gank41 said:
This is the main reason I won’t be another GM car. And I’ve owned mostly GM cars over the last 35 years.
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So many folks adding the laughing emoji to my post.. Isn't it normal for people to buy a car based on the car's features? Someone wants a 4 door, or a "car" instead of an "SUV".. Someone wants any kind of car, as long as it's red.. etc.. Why is it so hard to understand that someone might also want their stereo head unit to have certain features, too?

Folks have posted things like, "Tesla folks don't have to worry about this" or "AAOS is just fine/better".
What's wrong with folks just wanting a car with CarPlay? I like the Apple Maps app and I like being able to add places on my phone and it just be there in the car. I like the messages app.. Being able to get to my Apple Music in the same app. Sure, if you don't care about those things, why even read this article?
 
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turbineseaplane said:
Not great ... missing a lot of really great cars in the "won't offer" category.
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CarPlay Ultra is dead; yet another failed promise from Apple. Not to mention that the CURRENT CarPlay is also far from good already.
And even for those brands which MIGHT offer it, this will happen in new models - no software update will be available for existing cars.
So just stop writing about that irrelevant crap.
 
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mikefj2004 said:
Since us Tesla owners have never had even the prospect of having CarPlay, this news is neither here nor there. Car owners don’t want 3rd party companies coming in to run their UI.
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Tesla succeeds in spite of their shortcomings in areas such as this, not because of them. I'm not arguing Tesla software is bad, though some touch targets are much too small, just that choice is nice to have. Make no mistake that because Tesla has success that customers don't want CarPlay or CarPlay Ultra. What would be nice is a car setting where the owner gets to choose which environment their car starts up in each time. Give them the choice, then let's see. Not to mention, many car makers (leaving Tesla aside for a moment) are really bad at software. As someone who has experienced the new Model Y (a good vehicle) if it had optional CarPlay Ultra I could see myself using the Apple software experience full-time in the Model Y, were I an owner. I like too how CarPlay Ultra offers the ability for the user to customise screens, with more options in that regard no doubt coming. And how minimal CarPlay Ultra looks, and its large touch targets for buttons and sliders. Hopefully Apple don't ruin that with "liquid glass". You know, killing it with improvements.
 
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QuarterSwede said:
It’s far from bad. I find it so useful that I won’t buy a vehicle without it and so do a LOT of others.
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My wife and I won’t buy cars without wireless CarPlay either. But that’s CarPlay, not CarPlay Ultra. The lack of CarPlay Ultra doesn’t matter to us.
 
Wouldn't the difference between CarPlay Ultra and Android Automotive OS be that Google will collect your driving data and then sell it, in partnership with the Car Manufacturer, for ad revenue/profit while Apple would not? Seems like you can see who's being more transparent in who's choosing to add it to their cars. And thus, see who's offering CarPlay Ultra and who's not...
 
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