These Apple CarPlay Ultra Partners Now Say They Won't Support It

[Nuno Lopes]

Would I NOT buy a car because it had Apple CarPlay Ultra support? No. However, CarPlay Ultra would not be a draw for me. If it has it fine, but if it doesn't, no worries. This is in stark contrast to regular CarPlay. I definitely want that.

That is only because manufacturer allowed CarPlay to get in the first place. If they weren't so open and kind you would never have missed it.

Considering another poster post, I would say the value some are already giving to a Car and its manufacturers has actually devalued in comparison with CarPlay and Apple. Here is a good reason why these companies should not continue this path of deals and rather opt for one that values them.

Take this has an example. Many car manufacturers kindly allow you to decide what kind of entertainment service you want to use. No money attached. Heck some of them might even pay some kind of license to allow you to use CarPlay ... who knows. Shouldn't it be the other way around like Apple does to the App iOS hosts? In the end, the Car is the thing that host CarPlay, much as iOS hosts Apps. Yet these manufacturer do not impose their own App Store or impose rules that mandate they are the only one that can monetize, say Apple goods and services within the Car. Wouldn't be fare for these manufacturer to ask Apple for the payment for the use of their system to serve their customers, say 5% of App Store revenue, otherwise no deal?

This reasoning should work both ways, not only one way.

Cheers.

 

[rhett7660]

So you think apples solution would be free?
How many apple services are you already paying for ?

I like that the manufactures stay their ground and won’t let apple in.

All manufactures have their own style- better keep that instead of going the one fits all route.




Go buy an Aston Martin then. Nobody holds you back

Zero... nada... not a single service from Apple do I pay for. So far, Apples solution is free to the end users. If it wasn't free, I wouldn't use it. I would keep using bluetooth and the like. Pretty simple. Don't get me wrong, I love my Carplay, but not enough to pay for it as a service.

I am glad you like the fact the manufactures stand their ground. I won't pay for their services either as every single one I have tried is absolute dog shi*t. So, I will keep my iPhone and Carplay and be happy to use my items via bluetooth. I won't use the crap interfaces, the paid services, etc that all of the current cars I have tried. I just know, and yes my current car supports Carplay and now that I have it, it will dictate if and when I buy a new car.

 

[Abazigal]

Sad but hardly surprising. CarPlay may be better than anything these car manufacturers can pump out, but they would prefer not having their cars essentially become glorified iPhones accessories and lose a key point of differentiation in the future.

What's good for consumers may not necessary be what's desirable for stakeholders such as car manufacturers. It is what it is.

 

[Terry2023]

Toyota went the same way with CarPlay. They refused to support it AT ALL!

Then they found out real humans made real buying decisions based on whether or not CarPlay was supported.

OUT went the reprehensible Entune, in came CarPlay.

These EuroTrash companies will be no different. They only need to lose about 10 car sales a year to represent more revenue than their usurious spyware can steal from their customers.

And just like the VP in charge of Stealing at Toyota there will be a bunch of Germans wondering how it all went so wrong.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

Car makers really do need their dashboards for safety and so much more, so I really don’t blame them for not wanting Apple to expand their footprint in their realm. I still want CarPlay just where the stereo equipment screen is.

 

[EugW]

That is only because manufacturer allowed CarPlay to get in the first place. If they weren't so open and kind you would never have missed it.

Incorrect. I've always complained that car manufacturers had terrible infotainment systems, long before CarPlay even existed.

After CarPlay debuted, I said it was a must have. In contrast, I don't feel the same way about CarPlay Ultra at all, and it's clear I'm not alone.

 

[lk400]

They are in control of how car play ultra presents to preserve their brand.

As far as I’m aware, they still need to work within certain limitations, and I think that more simplified Apple style options are also offered alongside those that resemble the brand (although not sure if this is required).

 

[lk400]

Exactly. The car actually handles gauges and passes it through to CarPlay. If your iPhone reboots while using CarPlay Ultra, the car continues to display the gauges and car controls still work. Apple made a new system to pass through video from the car to the phone and it doesn’t even need the phone much of the time.

For what it’s worth, CarPlay Ultra includes gauges made by the manufacturer. The Aston with Ultra has Aston designed gauges and other car companies will do the same.

But the Aston also has screens that look like an iPhone.

I can sort of understand why, say, Mercedes doesn’t want that. I keep an old 2012 C63 in the garage that I’ve had since new. I don’t drive it very often these days. When I think about that vehicle, the first thing that springs to mind is pushing the start button, the beautiful instruments spring to life and the 6.2l V8 engine lets out an almighty sound. Many newer Mercedes have a 2.0l 4cyl engine or electric motor (the new version of the c63 has both). If you also take away the dash and replace it with something that looks like an iPhone (even if that’s just an option), you really do lose part of the “soul” of the car.

Personally I’m fine with the normal iPhone CarPlay that my newer vehicles have (although I would still prefer old fashioned dials to the manufacturer screen based ones).

 

[escargot3]

IMO the instrument cluster on the 2025 Camry is decent. The infotainment system sucks, but I already have regular CarPlay for that.

And I have real buttons for climate control.

With CarPlay Ultra it doesn’t replace the physical buttons. The software interface can be in addition to the physical controls. But it allows you to do additional things, such as adjusting a number of settings all at once with a Siri command, setting up automations and shortcuts, etc.

For example, if 2 drivers have very different preferences for climate, seat, drive mode and other settings, instead of adjusting them all manually one by one every time, they can invoke them all simply with a Siri command or shortcut

 

[EugW]

With CarPlay Ultra it doesn’t replace the physical buttons. The software interface can be in addition to the physical controls. But it allows you to do additional things, such as adjusting a number of settings all at once with a Siri command, setting up automations and shortcuts, etc.

For example, if 2 drivers have very different preferences for climate, seat, drive mode and other settings, instead of adjusting them all manually one by one every time, they can invoke them all simply with a Siri command or shortcut

I understand that, but I just don't find that very compelling. For example, I really don't want or need shortcuts to turn on my climate control. I don't use shortcuts on my iPhone either. And once I have the controls as physical buttons, I'm not interested in having it on my infotainment system display. Would having both be better? Maybe for some people, but if I had both, I'd just use the physical buttons (if designed ergonomically that is). If say for seat settings, I'd rather just press a memory seat button on the door panel. One and done. And really, drive mode? I think you're reaching here. Most people just set the drive mode once and leave it, but even if they don't, it's again just one button press.

CarPlay (and Android Auto) was a game changer. CarPlay Ultra is in some ways an improvement over CarPlay, but one that I just don't find all that interesting. It's at best an incremental improvement and one that just isn't as compelling for consumers. The manufacturers are realizing that, and most don't feel the need to bend the knee to Apple to implement CarPlay Ultra.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

I understand that, but I just don't find that very compelling. For example, I really don't want or need shortcuts to turn on my climate control. I don't use shortcuts on my iPhone either. And once I have the controls as physical buttons, I'm not interested in having it on my infotainment system display. Would having both be better? Maybe for some people, but if I had both, I'd just use the physical buttons (if designed ergonomically that is). If say for seat settings, I'd rather just press the memory seat setting on the door panel. One and done. And really, drive mode? I think you're reaching here. Most people just set the drive mode once and leave it, but even if they don't, it's just one button press.

CarPlay (and Android Auto) was a game changer. CarPlay Ultra is in some ways an improvement over CarPlay, but one that I just don't find all that interesting. It's at best an incremental improvement and one that just isn't as compelling for consumers. The manufacturers are realizing that, and most don't feel the need to bend the knee to Apple to implement CarPlay Ultra.

At least on my KIA I absolutely dispise the infotainment system. Quite ugly and unintuitive. Would be better with CarPlay ultra or Android os.

I belive that’s more the future how polestar have done it. Let carmakers do what they are best at and make cars and those greater in ux design to make that part.

 

[Nuno Lopes]

Incorrect. I've always complained that car manufacturers had terrible infotainment systems, long before CarPlay even existed.

True. But it does not invalidate what I said. instead they could have done what Tesla did.

The fact is that manufacturers opened the door to CarPlay and Android Auto. Heck they were even convinced to pay for it. You got used for it …

Look it today. Now you are saying that CarPlay is worth more to you than a good and safe car. So that decision to patch insufficiency instead of developing the a good solution, not only devalued their property but also payed for the previlege. Yes people demand good infotainment.

 

[OGdrknight]

This means Hyundai and Kia will support it!

 

[EugW]

At least on my KIA I absolutely dispise the infotainment system. Quite ugly and unintuitive. Would be better with CarPlay ultra or Android os.

I belive that’s more the future how polestar have done it. Let carmakers do what they are best at and make cars and those greater in ux design to make that part.

I'm not a fan of my Toyota's infotainment system either, but I use CarPlay 95% of the time. The only thing I could see CarPlay Ultra adding that I might use is integrated radio system controls, but I would have preferred that they just put physical buttons for the radio instead. However, if they added physical buttons, that means CarPlay Ultra would be completely superfluous. Anyhow, the main radio station I listen to is the local news channel. I just have it preprogrammed into the infotainment system, and can access it from the steering wheel control button. And have no interest in CarPlay Ultra taking over the instrument cluster, especially given that I already have turn-by-turn instructions there from Apple Maps (if I choose to show it there) and even have it in my head up display as well.

Infotainment screen:



Head up display:



BTW, they have an online app for internet radio on iOS for that news channel. However, it doesn't seem to be optimized for CarPlay widgets yet, not surprisingly. iOS 26 has a widget for it but it is currently problematic. If you select that internet radio station then switch to something like Spotify, CarPlay plays BOTH the news channel and Spotify simultaneously. Oops. Hopefully, this will be fixed once the release version of CarPlay 26 is out. This is not a problem with Spotify vs. Apple Music though. You can switch between those no problem. It only plays the one selected.

 

[spazzcat]

Not surprised. CarPlay Ultra is very intrusive.

It's about money. Who are the fools by apps for their car systems.

 

[christophermdia]

"revenue streams from in-car services"
This alone tells us enough that is not about the user experience.
When will these greedy companies realize people are sick and tired of being robbed by subscription "services"?
Meanwhile, so many of these automakers are happy to sign up with Google Automotive Service. 🥲

Yep, it’s all about greed! When you buy a car you should own every aspect of that car, these jokers are jacking up car prices 15-20% and on top of that are now trying to squeeze services out of it! Want to see your oil pressure? That’s $5/mo. Want to see how much gas you have left, that’s $10/mo. At some point things are gonna break … forget luxury cars, buy the cheapest thing with physical gauges and call it a day.

 

[newyorksole]

please Kia… allow a software update for my 2025

 

[EugW]

please Kia… allow a software update for my 2025

You mean for CarPlay Ultra? That's extremely unlikely. If Kia supports CarPlay Ultra, it would likely be for future models only.

 

[AlanBeyond]

I think apple could just follow Huawei's path on this topic. Huawei collab with automakers via a joint venture and new brand and develop system and auto driving software for them. I still think the cancellation of the Apple Car project is a huge mistake.

 

[AlanBeyond]

These car companies hold a 100% monopoly on their car users so let's see the EU step in and mandate they open access to Apple. Let the car owners decide who they want to use.

The EU's goal is to protect EU company's interest. Do you really think they will fine VW, BMW or Mercedes for such things?

 

[Black Tiger]

I care because have you used the interfaces from these cars? Also, the Apple would be able to add themes/new items as long as you have an iPhone vs. the carmaker not doing anything.

I get carmakers don't want to give up control though - but their behavior won't benefit the customer in this scenario.

The risk is Apple gaining too much control and car companies becoming dependent on them. That is monopolistic behaviour.

 

[newyorksole]

You mean for CarPlay Ultra? That's extremely unlikely. If Kia supports CarPlay Ultra, it would likely be for future models only.

let me dream/wish

literally bought my first car in December and thought “hmm maybe I just wait for CarPlay 2.0 whenever that is…” but it seemed to be so delayed and I couldn’t wait much longer

2025 model and everything

 

[throAU]

Pretty happy with my toyota rav4 with the big dash tbh

integrates iTunes and Maps with the dash with regular CarPlay.
has physical knobs for HVAC
steering wheel buttons talk to CarPlay just fine
decent size display for the rest of the CarPlay stuff

Not sure I'd want ultra.

 

[tennisproha]

They'll definitely be missing out on a whole user base because of this, especially Volvo and BMW. Their UI/UX is terrible. We were looking at the new Cadillac EVs but decided against them since GM doesn't even include CarPlay.

 

[CrysisDeu]

Apple's massive failure on not building their own car.