Mazda to Begin Offering CarPlay in September

[MacRumors]

Mazda today detailed long-awaited availability of its first vehicle with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the United States.

Starting in September, existing owners of the 2018 Mazda6, excluding the Sport base model, will be able to book an appointment with a Mazda dealership to have CarPlay and Android Auto installed at no extra cost. Mazda says the hardware and software updates take approximately two hours to be completed.

The upgraded Mazda6 models will also receive a faster-charging 2.1-amp USB port, and the latest software version of MAZDA CONNECT.

Then, starting in November, CarPlay and Android Auto will be preinstalled as original equipment in brand new 2018 Mazda6 vehicles, excluding the Sport model, at Mazda dealerships across the United States.

CarPlay will enable iPhone users to access a range of apps from the MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system, such as Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Radio, Pandora, WhatsApp, Downcast, Slacker Radio, Stitcher, and, starting with iOS 12, Google Maps and Waze.

Back in March, on its Canadian website, Mazda said CarPlay and Android Auto will first be offered in the 2019 CX-9, and then rolled out across the entire model lineup thereafter. Mazda also said the platforms will be available as a genuine retrofit for MAZDA CONNECT systems starting this fall.

Mazda also announced the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support to its vehicle line-up. In Canada, these mobile device connectivity technologies will first be offered in the 2019 CX-9 launching this summer, and then rolled out across the entire model line-up thereafter. In addition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be available as a Genuine Mazda Accessory retrofit for MAZDA CONNECT systems starting this fall.

The press release suggests that Mazda vehicles released as early as 2014 could eventually support CarPlay and Android Auto, but it's unclear if the backwards compatibility will extend to the United States.

Mazda is one of the last major automakers in the United States to offer CarPlay, around six months after Toyota and Lexus announced support.

Update: Here's a video walkthrough of CarPlay in the 2018 Mazda6. Thanks, Eli.

Article Link: Mazda to Begin Offering CarPlay in September

 

[enc0re]

"Starting in September, existing owners of the 2018 Mazda6, excluding the Sport base model, will be able to book an appointment with a Mazda dealership to have CarPlay and Android Auto installed at no extra cost."

Does that mean the Sport doesn't get it or that it will be an additional cost?

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Does this mean that every traditional manufacturer (e.g. not Tesla) now offers CarPlay? I thought Toyota and Mazda were the last holdouts.

Edit: I did see the last line of the article but I'm looking for clarification on "one of the last"

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Starting in September, existing owners of the 2018 Mazda6, excluding the Sport base model, will be able to book an appointment with a Mazda dealership to have CarPlay and Android Auto installed at no extra cost.

The 1900s called. They want your lack of OTA updates back.

 

[sfwalter]

Now how many years will it take for it be available across their entire line of vehicles. I'm shopping for a new vehicle and although I like the CX-5 I may need to pass on it. Since 2018 CX-5 doesn't support CarPlay (yet). Mazda did you know its 2018?

 

[bhenny1]

Finally! I'm on my third Mazda and planning on getting my fourth in 2019. Happy it'll finally have CarPlay!

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Does this mean that every traditional manufacturer (e.g. not Tesla) now offers CarPlay? I thought Toyota and Mazda were the last holdouts.

Edit: I did see the last line of the article but I'm looking for clarification on "one of the last"

It seems strange that MacRumor's CarPlay roundup doesn't just give a list of every manufacturer with a checkmarks to signal the ones that have at least one model with CarPlay.

 

[themick4u]

Hoping all these auto manufacturers who offer the Carplay, offer this feature as wireless now....

 

[tfigs]

And the CX-5???

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Finally! I'm on my third Mazda and planning on getting my fourth in 2019. Happy it'll finally have CarPlay!

Did it occur to you that maybe if you go through that many cars, they might be garbage?

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Did it occur to you that maybe if you go through that many cars, they might be garbage?

I don't even know where to begin with this statement. You've made a lot of assumptions in coming to this conclusion.

 

[EmilGH]

You can enable Android Auto today on some Mazdas:

https://mazdatweaks.com

 

[MacBebe]

Hopefully, upgrade is available for older models, e.g. Miata MX-5 RF.

 

[cyclingplatypus]

Did it occur to you that maybe if you go through that many cars, they might be garbage?

Or, you know, he could lease them or he likes to buy a new car every few years.

 

[ghostface147]

Did it occur to you that maybe if you go through that many cars, they might be garbage?

Well that's a rather silly assumption. What do you know about this person's situation? Maybe they're married and the spouse has one as well. That's two. And maybe before then they had one for six years?

 

[Munky]

The 1900s called. They want your lack of OTA updates back.

It's the USB ports. They need to be replaced because they don't push enough power to simultaneously charge and transfer large amounts of data needed for CarPlay.

 

[CarlJ]

The 1900s called. They want your lack of OTA updates back.

Hey, at least they're offering it to some existing owners, rather than saying, "want updated from firmware? Buy next year's model." Baby steps.

 

[Munky]

Now how many years will it take for it be available across their entire line of vehicles. I'm shopping for a new vehicle and although I like the CX-5 I may need to pass on it. Since 2018 CX-5 doesn't support CarPlay (yet). Mazda did you know its 2018?

Check out some Mazda car message boards. The parts are already available in the EU. You need to replace the USB ports with stronger ones (about $160) and then get the software update. Boom, done.

 

[RogerWilco]

The only thing with lower market share than Mazda is Windows Phone.

 

[mrvirginia]

Now how many years will it take for it be available across their entire line of vehicles. I'm shopping for a new vehicle and although I like the CX-5 I may need to pass on it. Since 2018 CX-5 doesn't support CarPlay (yet). Mazda did you know its 2018?

The car is worth it even without ACP. I just got a 2016 model earlier this year and am in love lol

 

[MacDawg]

The only thing with lower market share than Mazda is Windows Phone.

Who cares about market share?
I don't own stock in them, I just drive the car

I love my 2017 CX-5
And I don't care if it ever gets Car Play

Had a guy just this morning stop me and ask what kind of car it was
I said, a Mazda and he said, it looks great, I love it

 

[mrvirginia]

The only thing with lower market share than Mazda is Windows Phone.

Some ignorant statements being thrown around in here LOL

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

My wife and I bought a Honda CR-V last year in part because it came equipped with CarPlay, which was one of our "would love to haves." Now that I have it, it is a bit underwhelming (though may get better with iOS 12). I don't really enjoy the CR-V and wish we would have replaced the totaled Mazda3 with a CX-5. If the CX-5 had had CarPlay in its 2017 models, we'd own one today.

 

[BB8]

The only thing with lower market share than Mazda is Windows Phone.

and yet they make the best Japanese cars.

 

[mrvirginia]

Who cares about market share?
I don't own stock in them, I just drive the car

I love my 2017 CX-5
And I don't care if it ever gets Car Play

Had a guy just this morning stop me and ask what kind of car it was
I said, a Mazda and he said, it looks great, I love it

It's okay mate, let the haters hate. As owners we know what's up