Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Where is Apple's Next-Generation CarPlay?

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,425
37,610


It has been over two years since Apple first previewed next-generation CarPlay at WWDC 2022, and it has still yet to become available in any vehicles.

next-generation-carplay-multi-display.jpg

Below, we recap the latest information about next-generation CarPlay.

Launch Timing

Apple's website continues to say that the first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay support will "arrive in 2024," but it has yet to provide a more specific timeframe. Aston Martin and Porsche previewed next-generation CarPlay vehicle designs late last year, but neither automaker has released any vehicles with support yet.

Apple continued to highlight next-generation CarPlay in WWDC 2024 coding sessions for developers, suggesting that the company remains committed to rolling out the system as of three months ago, but it is clearly taking quite some time.

Next-Generation CarPlay

Next-generation CarPlay will have deeper integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster, climate controls, FM radio, and more. It will also support multiple displays across the dashboard, and offer widgets for apps like Calendar and Weather.

In addition, next-generation CarPlay will be highly customizable, allowing automakers to tailor the design of the system to uniquely match their vehicles.

New Features

Instrument Cluster Integration
Multi-Display-CarPlay-2.jpeg

Next-generation CarPlay will integrate with a vehicle's instrument cluster, including the speedometer, tachometer, odometer, fuel gauge, engine temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and more. Apple says drivers will be able to choose from several gauge cluster designs and layouts, including brand‑specific options.

Climate Controls
CarPlay-Next-Generation-Screen.jpg

You'll be able to access your vehicle's climate controls directly within the new CarPlay interface, allowing you to adjust the temperature of the A/C or heat, fan speed, heated seats, heated steering wheel, and other options.

Multi-Display Support
CarPlay-Next-Generation-Multi-Screens.jpg

Next-generation CarPlay will be able to appear across all of the displays in a vehicle, providing a consistent experience across the infotainment system, instrument cluster, and any additional screens on the dashboard. Apple says the new CarPlay will be tailored to each vehicle model to accommodate unique screen shapes and layouts.

Widgets
CarPlay-Next-Generation-Widgets.jpg

Widgets will be a key part of the new CarPlay experience, offering at-a-glance information such as trip duration, fuel economy, distance traveled, calendar events, weather, phone calls, the status of a HomeKit-enabled garage door, and more. It will also be possible to view and scroll through the widgets within the instrument cluster.

FM Radio App
CarPlay-Next-Generation-Radio.jpg

Next-generation CarPlay will include an all-new Media app that allows you to easily control the FM radio in your vehicle, such as to change the station.

New Apps

iOS 17.4 for the iPhone added hidden code-level references to eight new CarPlay apps:
  • Auto Settings: This app will let you manage paired iPhones and adjust vehicle settings.
  • Car Camera: This app will display the vehicle's rear-view camera feed.
  • Charge: For electric vehicles, this app will display battery level, charging status, time remaining until the battery is fully charged, and more.
  • Climate: This app will provide access to a vehicle's climate controls within CarPlay, allowing you to adjust the temperature of the A/C or heating system, fan speed, heated seats, heated steering wheel, and more.
  • Closures: This app will display if any of the vehicle's doors are opened, and it might also display vehicle warning symbols.
  • Media: This app will provide access to FM and AM radio station controls within CarPlay, along with other media options like SiriusXM. It is unclear if SiriusXM will offer satellite connectivity, or remain limited to internet streaming. Users will be able to select from a list of music genres, such as Top 40 and Rock.
  • Tire Pressure: This app will display air pressure for each of the vehicle's tires, and provide low pressure, high pressure, and flat tire warnings.
  • Trips: This app will provide a variety of driving-related data, including the vehicle's average speed, fuel efficiency or energy efficiency, the total time elapsed and distance traveled on a trip, and more.

Committed Automakers

Next-Generation-CarPlay-Aston-Martin.jpeg
Aston Martin's next-generation CarPlay preview from December 2023​


When it first announced next-generation CarPlay, Apple said the following automakers were committed to offering it in new vehicles:
  • Acura
  • Audi
  • Ford
  • Honda
  • Infiniti
  • Jaguar
  • Land Rover
  • Lincoln
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Nissan
  • Polestar
  • Porsche
  • Renault
  • Volvo
Beyond the addition of Aston Martin, it is unclear if this list has changed since that initial announcement at WWDC 2022.

Apple has not indicated if any next-generation CarPlay apps or features will be available in existing vehicles with standard CarPlay support.

Article Link: Where is Apple's Next-Generation CarPlay?
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/09/18/when-is-next-generation-apple-carplay-launching/
  • Like
Reactions: SkippyThorson and progx
I think the writing is on the wall that CarPlay / Android Auto (As a mirroring service) are a thing of the past, most automakers are now implementing their own software strategy with hooks to services like Apple Music and such. See Tesla / Rivian / GM as an example of where the industry is going. I rent a lot of cars for work and I'm on the fence as the implementation of CarPlay hasn't been great on most of the cars I've rented.
 
  • Disagree
  • Like
Reactions: TomaxXamot, LlamaLarry, StuBeck and 12 others
Apple is missing a huge market with this.

What they need to do is get this into the hands of 3rd party retrofit companies. I'd LOVE to replace my crappy gauge cluster with a CarPlay one.

And once those retrofit modules are flooding the market, car companies will have no choice but to put this in new cars, because if they don't their crappy systems will just get ripped and replaced.
 
  • Like
Reactions: zarmanto, MacHeritage, LordSpecter and 6 others
Troxster said:
I think the writing is on the wall that CarPlay / Android Auto (As a mirroring service) are a thing of the past, most automakers are now implementing their own software strategy with hooks to services like Apple Music and such. See Tesla / Rivian / GM as an example of where the industry is going. I rent a lot of cars for work and I'm on the fence as the implementation of CarPlay hasn't been great on most of the cars I've rented.
Click to expand...
This is completely backwards. GM and Rivian are being dragged for that, GM in particular is looking to cash in on subscriptions. Why would anyone want to pay for connectivity twice? Every year, Carplay/AA move higher up the list of required features for new car buyers. Nobody has seen any results of what GM and Rivian have claimed - so to call it a trend is really jumping the gun.

My car has an awesome implementation of CarPlay and it was built in 2015 - yet I have never rented a single car that ever had a good implementation. So, I do think you're seeing some bad examples, probably the WORST examples as rental agencies aren't getting the maxed out infotainment packages.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Roadster Lewis, TomaxXamot, LordSpecter and 15 others
The new Volvo EX90 is just now getting released and it will not have CarPlay at launch. My guess is that when CarPlay gets released as an update, it will feature the next gen CarPlay.
 
Djbencastaneda said:
The new Volvo EX90 is just now getting released and it will not have CarPlay at launch. My guess is that when CarPlay gets released as an update, it will feature the next gen CarPlay.
Click to expand...
The Polestar 3 and EX90 have both been delayed so long that these two have to be the cars that were committed to CarPlay 2.0 when it was announced. I'm not so sure that's the reason for the delay, though. Why wouldn't they just ship it with 1.0 and add 2.0 later? I think the real problem is related to having a new platform, even if it is built on android automotive like the last.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Roadster Lewis and 75Batt
mblm85 said:
I'm a huge fan of the current CarPlay but I wouldn't want any of this next gen stuff.

It screams single point of failure to me which, in a moving vehicle at speed, seems like a very bad idea indeed.
Click to expand...
I can just see Apple requiring me to reenter the apple id password while I am driving. Had a similar thing happen when I went to use their podcast app this week. Wouldn’t work because their privacy terms changed. Wanted me to stop driving and confirm the new terms. Did what most drivers probably do, while driving I opened the app on my iphone and confirmed.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: gusmula, TomaxXamot, iFunk and 4 others
automakers on their own schedule, integrating this kind of technology takes years for them, unfortunately.
A vehicle launching in 2024 had its infotainment and stuff probably designed 2-3 years ago, then comes the sourcing/qualification of the individual components, then supply chain agreements and then the cars have to go through testing and finally the factories need to be re-tooled for the new vehicles ... it takes time
 
  • Like
Reactions: Roadster Lewis, LlamaLarry, centauratlas and 2 others
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back