These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer Apple's CarPlay Ultra

[platinumaqua]

I still see CarPlay Ultra (emphasis added as half the people in this thread are still confusing it with the regular CarPlay that's on the radio screen) as pointless. I don’t need or want Apple to take over the instrument cluster.

 

[turbineseaplane]

What stops Apple from making cars if Huawei and Xiaomi can?

Look into what's going on in China and how extremely hard EVs are being incentivized and pushed from the Gov side.

Add in how much of the entire supply chain stack is set up over there, often literally all in one CITY.

Then look at the US.

I'll bet Apple is delighted they didn't even try given how hard things have pivoted here.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Hoping Toyota does

 

[HVDynamo]

Too bad if Honda and Toyota won't offer it. Looks like I'll be buying a Hyundai in a few years!

I'm honestly content with standard carplay. I don't need or care about Ultra.

 

[npmacuser5]

That always will be a core competitive measure for all auto mfgs. Every car has had unique vehicle control interfaces long before electronics came onto the scene.

Car makers ruthlessly guard their design strategies for GUI's now just as they did with their dashboards for the last 100 years...

Some are good , some are lousy but that is a key point of competition and differentiation. You make your vehicle selection in part on your preference in these areas.

And my competitive measure, purchase from those that meet my requirements. To your point about the before electronics compared to the past, only a very few ways to change a button. Unlimited ways to change the electronics.

 

[tennisproha]

Genesis is becoming more and more enticing. Such a great value.

 

[ForkHandles]

That's complete speculation unless you know something that none of us do. My sister has a car running Google Automotive, and CarPlay does just fine on it. There is no indication, badging, branding or semblance of Google on the system.

Google Automotive is an underlying OS, similar to how the underlying OS to macOS is Darwin. It doesn't even have an interface of it's own.

Correct. Absolute speculation.

However, compared to how easy CarPlay runs on other cars, something smells bad.

 

[BuffaloTF]

I'm not going to start arguing, because I don't care that much, but my Sis's car runs Google Automotive, and there are zero clicks to open carplay.. It's wireless and automatically opens when you start the car. What you're describing is a Volvo problem, not a Google Automotive licensing problem.

It's a 2024 model, if that matters.

You’re saying exactly what I’m saying… it’s nothing with licensing. If she hits home, there will be a prominent button to get back in right on that Home Screen. If she switches to Bluetooth only, that same button will become a phone icon instead and launch the built in phone app, presumably with her call history or favorites.

 

[jole]

Scout?

(Asking as a Rivian driver who would see CarPlay Ultra as a huge upgrade to Rivian proprietary system)

 

[Arid]

Never mind Ultra, GM won't even offer regular Apple Carplay. Looks like my current Escalade will be my last.

 

[CrysisDeu]

The ROI is probably too small. Apple is all about high margins and cars generally aren't.



Cars have some unique challenges not seen in the current model. Cars need showrooms, repair systems, you can't just have the user mail the defective device in and repair or cross ship a replacement, and present liabilities beyond those of a phone or PC.



Low margin products don't make sense in Apple's ecosystem, and thus not worth investigating to figure them out.

I don’t think margins are the only reason to decide whether you should create a product or not. Apple Vision Pro’s margin have to suck and yet they did it.

And if there’s net revenue, who doesn’t want more money?

Car is an integral part of many many people. If Apple don’t have a car in their ecosystem, their other product lines are also vulnerable.

For example, if I drive a Huawei car, I would probably opt for a Huawei phone instead of an iPhone because of the much superior integration

 

[CrysisDeu]

Look into what's going on in China and how extremely hard EVs are being incentivized and pushed from the Gov side.

Add in how much of the entire supply chain stack is set up over there, often literally all in one CITY.

Then look at the US.

I'll bet Apple is delighted they didn't even try given how hard things have pivoted here.

I am not sure if they are also happy when iPhone users leave them for brands with EVs in the ecosystem.

EV market in the US is nowhere near as competitive as China and they can carve a big chunk of the market. It can easily add another trillion dollar to their market cap.

In the worse case, create an Apple car company and let the separate company deal with the finances

 

[1rottenapple]

Apple basically lost this one. Without fanfare cars are coming with google powered UI. Hell even my peloton to other small and big devices… even the plane entertainment are running a google software.

 

[dizmonk]

I'm honestly content with standard carplay. I don't need or care about Ultra.

I have a new Hyundai. I really hope Apple gives us the choice of upgrading to Ultra or keeping standard Carplay.

 

[gbc204]

Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis are effectively all the same company.



I haven't been follwing Honda, but I'm 99% sure Toyota won't offer CarPlay Ultra. Mind you I have little interest in CarPlay Ultra. Wireless CarPlay is a big selling point for me, but CarPlay Ultra definitely is not.

True, but they do roll out different features though. I have a 2021 Genesis, and that got the wireless CarPlay update last year. I have a 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5, and that does not offer wireless CarPlay. Meanwhile a Kia I rented years ago had wireless CarPlay already. I wouldn't be surprised if CarPlay Ultra only comes to Genesis, at least to start.

 

[gbc204]

Wonder if Mazda will ever offer it

over a decade ago when I was buying a new car, I debated long and hard between a Mazda and a Hyundai. The tiebreaker ended up being the rumors that Hyundai was going to offer CarPlay. Glad I went that route.

 

[Newbee2025]

Aston here I come!

 

[EugW]

True, but they do roll out different features though. I have a 2021 Genesis, and that got the wireless CarPlay update last year. I have a 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5, and that does not offer wireless CarPlay. Meanwhile a Kia I rented years ago had wireless CarPlay already. I wouldn't be surprised if CarPlay Ultra only comes to Genesis, at least to start.

That actually happens within the same brand too, with different models. Car manufacturers often update different models on different schedules, so Car 1 from Brand X might get wireless CarPlay in 2024, whereas Car 2 from the same Brand X might get wireless CarPlay in 2025. They have different product cycles, and Wireless CarPlay may only get introduced when there is a significant car model revamp, but those model revamps don't all occur in the same model years.

 

[Neil Harrison]

I would never ever purchase a car with CarPlay Ultra. Being dependent on Apple in even the tiniest degree with respect to my car is a total and absolute no-go!

And being dependant on the car manufacturer is?

 

[Neil Harrison]

I still see CarPlay Ultra as pointless. I don’t need or want Apple to take over the instrument cluster.

I can understand that but I am the other way round. I have a Mercedes GLB at the start MBUX was really good but after a few years it’s not had a software update and is now dated. The navigation only works if you subscribe. I have started using CarPlay as it can integrate with daily life. A good example is when I take my daughter to netball, we get automatic calendar updates with maps in them. You can use that link to create route from phone. Far easier than need to search postcodes

So do me replacing MBuX would be awesome

 

[Neil Harrison]

It would be refreshing to critically examine why manufacturers are reluctant to offer the new system.

It's very interesting what Apple actually demands. And even more interesting what they don't want to do in return.

Apple wants total control over the car's operation and access to all driving data. Manufacturers will only be responsible for supplying "the device." Everything else will be completely controlled by Apple.

What does the company offer in return? Nothing.
Not even money.
Apple expects car manufacturers to be grateful for being relegated to mere hardware suppliers. They are even expected to pay licensing fees for using CarPlay Ultra.

Ask yourselves:
Would you make this deal as a manufacturer? Give away all your car data, give up your USP, and pay money for your future insignificance?

Not to mention the money they lose from subscription services.

 

[platinumaqua]

I can understand that but I am the other way round. I have a Mercedes GLB at the start MBUX was really good but after a few years it’s not had a software update and is now dated. The navigation only works if you subscribe. I have started using CarPlay as it can integrate with daily life. A good example is when I take my daughter to netball, we get automatic calendar updates with maps in them. You can use that link to create route from phone. Far easier than need to search postcodes

So do me replacing MBuX would be awesome

That's the regular CarPlay you're talking about, not CarPlay Ultra. I'm fully onboard with having CarPlay regular in the center infotainment screen.

 

[hagar]

Volvo and Polestar have a serious software problem right now. I suspect the reason they have dropped plans for this is because they can't even get the basic functions of their new platform operating correctly after over a year and have had to publicly apologize.

The only reason these car manufacturers want to stick to their own garbage is because of money. Just like my Mercedes with its horrible MBUX system, they really want to sell subscriptions to in-car features.

They claim they want to “control the entire user experience” but all they want is more money. Like 99 euro a year for the mobile app. It’s crazy.

 

[GertjeD]

I would love Apple CarPlay Ultra in my Volkswagen, just so Volkswagen’s own bloated user interface is not getting in the way all the time.

 

[jlc1978]

I don’t think margins are the only reason to decide whether you should create a product or not.

Of course not the only, but they are a key consideration. With a car, along with likely poor margins there are a whole host of reasons not to make one.

Apple Vision Pro’s margin have to suck and yet they did it.

Sometimes you do that because you think a new category will be a long term winner. The AVP fits into Apple's supply chain and retail setup a lot easier than a car so it doesn't require engineering a whole new supply chain and retail setup. In addition, as the tech improves there is also the opportunity to drive the price down to a general consumer level.

And if there’s net revenue, who doesn’t want more money?

More money is not always good, the question is "What is the return that money yields vs the return from other opportunities?" Just because a product will generate revenue doesn't mean a company should make it, it's about opportunity costs.

Car is an integral part of many many people. If Apple don’t have a car in their ecosystem, their other product lines are also vulnerable.

I think you are overestimating the complementary nature of cars and phones.

For example, if I drive a Huawei car, I would probably opt for a Huawei phone instead of an iPhone because of the much superior integration

You might, but I suspect most iPhone users would not abandon it just because the car manufacturer's phone is better integrated; especially since the time spent in a car and the ways a phone is used in one are small compared to the other use cases.

I also suspect as long as making calls, listening to music/news/etc. and navigation work most users will be satisfied.