Porsche Still Has No Imminent Plans to Launch Next-Generation CarPlay Despite 2023 Preview

[MacRumors]

In late 2023, Porsche previewed what next-generation CarPlay could look like in its vehicles, with a pair of images showing a custom instrument cluster and more. However, the luxury automaker has yet to release any vehicles that support the software nearly a year later, and it sounds like it still has no imminent plans to do so.

A spokesperson for Porsche today informed MacRumors that the automaker plans to maintain its current level of CarPlay integration in the "near term." Porsche supports standard CarPlay, and while some of its vehicles like the Taycan offer additional features like EV routing in Apple Maps, that is not next-generation CarPlay.

Aston Martin also previewed its next-generation CarPlay design alongside Porsche last year, but it has yet to release any vehicles that support the system.

Apple's website continues to say that the first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay support will "arrive in 2024," but no vehicles support the software yet. Apple and automakers have just over a month remaining to meet that 2024 timeframe.

Apple first previewed next-generation CarPlay in June 2022, promising deeper integration with the instrument cluster and climate controls, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, a dedicated FM radio app, widgets, and more. The interface can be tailored to each specific vehicle model and automaker's brand identity.

When it unveiled next-generation CarPlay, Apple said committed automakers included Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, Renault, and Volvo. Nearly two and a half years have gone by since Apple shared that list, however, so it is unclear if it remains fully accurate.

It is still very possible that next-generation CarPlay ends up launching this December, and recent activity suggests that Apple is still making preparations. Earlier this month, a few redesigned next-generation CarPlay icons appeared in iOS 18.2 beta code, and Apple filed to protect its next-generation CarPlay designs in the European Union.

Apple has been adding next-generation CarPlay references to iOS since iOS 17, so it is unclear what the minimum iOS version requirement will be for the system. In any case, we expect iOS 18.2 to be released on December 9. Hopefully, Apple will finally announce next-generation CarPlay availability details at some point next month.

Article Link: Porsche Still Has No Imminent Plans to Launch Next-Generation CarPlay Despite 2023 Preview

 

[t0rqx]

This is due to the failed business transition acquiring Porsche as a base for the Apple Car.

After they stopped Project Titan, lot of stakeholders lost a lot of money.

 

[jb310]

Maybe they just think the current version is so good that there's no hurry to upgrade just yet?

(or maybe most car manufacturers are perpetually slow to upgrade software... but I like the positive spin. 😝)

 

[PsykX]

Some history.
CarPlay was originally released in 2014, and wireless CarPlay in 2017.
Even in 2021, you could buy cars with CarPlay, but no wireless support.
And today, 10 years after initial release, some cars still don't have it and won't ever have it.

Let me tell you : This is going to be a hell of a slow rollout. We're already 2 years in since the original announcement, and nothing seems to be on the horizon.

 

[9081094]

I’m affraid Apple’s closed CarPlay system will go the same route as tv’s. Nobody wants to get dependent on Apple by Apple rules. That’s why most TV’s run some sort of Android. LG has its own WebOS (which is great by the way).

If Apple wants a bigger part of the automotive business they have to learn to play nice with them. But I’m afraid Apple is too late for that already and Android has been the system of choice for most.

 

[2540497]

I don’t buy a car if it doesn’t have CarPlay.

Once you go CarPlay you can never go back. Assume the same is with AndroidAuto.

 

[icwhatudidthere]

I don’t buy a car if it doesn’t have CarPlay.

Once you go CarPlay you can never go back. Assume the same is with AndroidAuto.

Same, but I don't think I really want this updated CarPlay 2. Hopefully if I ever buy a car with it, there will be an option to only use the more limited version.

 

[Karma*Police]

I don’t see the benefit of auto manufacturers adopting the latest version of CarPlay, especially luxury brands. It would only serve to reduce their brand identity and perceived uniqueness. I wouldn’t buy a $250K Porsche if the dashboard looked the same as a cheap Chevy Bolt, for example.

 

[FineWoven]

I don’t buy a car if it doesn’t have CarPlay.

Once you go CarPlay you can never go back. Assume the same is with AndroidAuto.

I used to feel that way until I got a Tesla. Once you go Tesla you can never go back. Their hardware/software symbiosis is very Apple-like except they actually succeeded at it whereas we all know Apple's car project flopped. Now they're doing something that looks a hell of a lot like what Android does by licensing its mobile operating system for a bunch of different vendors to deploy on their hardware. Apple taking a page out of the Android/Windows playbook? Never thought I'd see the day. Gross.

 

[I7guy]

I’m affraid Apple’s closed CarPlay system will go the same route as tv’s. Nobody wants to get dependent on Apple by Apple rules. That’s why most TV’s run some sort of Android. LG has its own WebOS (which is great by the way).

If Apple wants a bigger part of the automotive business they have to learn to play nice with them. But I’m afraid Apple is too late for that already and Android has been the system of choice for most.

People said the same about Apple Pay and here we are today.

 

[timber]

A Porsche instrument cluster without its trademark 5 gauge display looks just plain cheap and classless.

 

[xraydoc]

I don’t buy a car if it doesn’t have CarPlay.

Once you go CarPlay you can never go back. Assume the same is with AndroidAuto.

I sort of feel the same a bit in that I like the interface better than most built-in infotainment systems, but my current car is a plug-in hybrid (Volvo) with built-in Android/Google for Automotive (not quite the same as Android Auto on one's phone). If I use the built-in Google Maps, the engine management & GPS system will automatically prioritize when to use electric vs gas drivetrains depending on terrain, traffic, time/distance to the set destination, and other factors dependent on the GPS. It's quite nice as the battery won't deplete on the highway but instead will be used on side-streets or in stop-go traffic, only running out as I approach my destination -- even over a distance of 350+ miles, despite the electric-only range of ~40 miles.

Otherwise, if I use Apple Maps (or no GPS system at all), it'll just run on the electric drivetrain until the battery is depleted, then switch to conventional gas/hybrid for the rest of the way. Running electric-only is of course preferred for driving around town, but depleting the battery in the first 40 miles of a long road trip isn't ideal.

The engine trip management doesn't know how to communicate with Apple Maps/CarPlay to calculate this battery/gas management, presumably as there's no API from Apple for this kind of integration (nor does it do it with Android Auto running off an Android phone; only the built-in system). I don't know if CarPlay 2.0 has that or not. With cars becoming more dependent on their internal computer systems for these things, it's no wonder GM is dropping CarPlay for their EVs (and of course Tesla never had it). No point in using Apple Maps if it doesn't have support for calculating charging intervals, battery pre-conditioning, etc. Apple's CarPlay thus becomes less useful since I want the battery/engine management features when I'm using GPS to get me to a far-away destination.

I can certainly use CarPlay for music and still use the internal GPS system on trips, and I have, but that just diminishes CarPlay to a glorified iPod... Not something automakers likely want to take the time and money to invest in.

 

[sdz]

I like how Porsche's steering wheel is ROUND.

 

[icwhatudidthere]

I used to feel that way until I got a Tesla. Once you go Tesla you can never go back. Their hardware/software symbiosis is very Apple-like except they actually succeeded at it whereas we all know Apple's car project flopped. Now they're doing something that looks a hell of a lot like what Android does by licensing its mobile operating system for a bunch of different vendors to deploy on their hardware. Apple taking a page out of the Android/Windows playbook? Never thought I'd see the day. Gross.

Disagree. Went Tesla and went back. I don't think I'd ever go back.

 

[dasmb]

Nobody wants to get dependent on Apple by Apple rules.

Me. I do. Apple is far more trustworthy than a television manufacturer in 2024.

Buy a TV these days, you can't even reliably determine whose ads you're seeing. You can expect a click-through warning that your privacy will not be protected, that all disputes will go through arbitration and that the TV will phone home with everything you watch. Then you'll be presented with subscription options through the TV manufacturer, and a limited set of applications compared to an AppleTV or Roku.

This is why all my TVs are disconnected from the internet, with connectivity exclusively through an AppleTV box connected via HDMI.

Similarly: I do not want to trust a _car company_ to provide services such as navigation or media. I've owned cars before and these services start off bad and age worse. Car companies just aren't incentivized to continue improving quality of the service life I expect from a modern car (10-15 years).

That said -- I actually want a pretty robust bulkhead between car features and infotainment features. I want to be able to get into the car, manage settings, view trip data and use the radio without having to connect my phone. But I would be fine with current gen, single-screen CarPlay forever -- maybe with some extra access to sensors to encourage innovation.

 

[Oscar_440]

Now we can say Apple is the company of the future. Ones that never come

 

[newyorksole]

damn. well that makes me feel a little better that if I do end up buying a new Honda soon, either I’ll be able to do an update to 2.0 or future Hondas won’t even come with 2.0 until maybe 2026 or later.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Can't say I blame them - current CarPlay isn't great, what reason do I have to believe CarPlay 2.0 will be better?

 

[iToph]

The Porsche looks like the new macan. It’s the only car with only 3 instrument clusters in the drivers display. It’s also the only Porsche with android automotive. I’d be super hyped since I take delivery of my macan next week 😆

 

[9081094]

People said the same about Apple Pay and here we are today.

I love Apple Pay but I’m curious what will happen since the EU rules are forcing Apple to let other banking systems make use of the NFC-chip Apple is using. Won’t be long before my bank offers the same possibility of easy paying and other banking possibilities too which Apple has no access to. So give it a few years and that ApplePay monopoly is finished too 🤭

 

[@Brett]

Some history.
CarPlay was originally released in 2014, and wireless CarPlay in 2017.
Even in 2021, you could buy cars with CarPlay, but no wireless support.
And today, 10 years after initial release, some cars still don't have it and won't ever have it.

Let me tell you : This is going to be a hell of a slow rollout. We're already 2 years in since the original announcement, and nothing seems to be on the horizon.

No different to Android Auto. Some cars come with wireless CarPlay and wired Android Auto.

 

[@Brett]

I’m affraid Apple’s closed CarPlay system will go the same route as tv’s. Nobody wants to get dependent on Apple by Apple rules. That’s why most TV’s run some sort of Android. LG has its own WebOS (which is great by the way).

If Apple wants a bigger part of the automotive business they have to learn to play nice with them. But I’m afraid Apple is too late for that already and Android has been the system of choice for most.

Both those TV operating systems you mention have or are going to be injecting Ads into them. Apple very much as a place for people who do not want that.

 

[tomtad]

We don't need every single display to be Apple. Let's keep some uniqueness in cars

 

[I7guy]

I love Apple Pay but I’m curious what will happen since the EU rules are forcing Apple to let other banking systems make use of the NFC-chip Apple is using. Won’t be long before my bank offers the same possibility of easy paying and other banking possibilities too which Apple has no access to. So give it a few years and that ApplePay monopoly is finished too 🤭

And that “monopoly” makes it an easy driving force for consumers. Good luck to the future.

 

[Graphate]

I don’t see the benefit of auto manufacturers adopting the latest version of CarPlay, especially luxury brands. It would only serve to reduce their brand identity and perceived uniqueness. I wouldn’t buy a $250K Porsche if the dashboard looked the same as a cheap Chevy Bolt, for example.

I was under the impression the manufacturer had the option of developing their own “apps” to get their own look and feel.

In any case, two things (a) I suspect the inverse is true too, i.e. I doubt you’d buy a Chevy Bolt simply because it has the same dash-cluster as a Porsche. And (b) the dash-cluster, the display, provided it’s not also terrible, likely has very little affect on the luxury ‘feel’ of a car. With the best manufacturers, you could be blindfolded and know you’re in a luxury vehicle, and certainly if you’re driving it (still (dangerously) blindfolded).