Toyota concedes, reveals plans to launch first cars with Apple CarPlay
Perhaps the longest major CarPlay holdout, Toyota on Monday announced that it will be bringing the platform to the 2019 Avalon, as well as other vehicles in the 2019 model year -- including some from its luxury Lexus brand.
The new Avalon is shipping this spring, and will have CarPlay standard on all trims, Toyota said in a press release. The interface will display on a 9-inch touchscreen.
Unusually, while Android Auto support hasn't been announced, the car will also support some remote control functions by way of smartwatches and Amazon Alexa, such as starting the engine, locking and unlocking doors, and gauging fuel levels.
CarPlay will require Toyota's Enform 2.0 or Entune 3.0 multimedia systems, a spokesman told MacRumors. In theory that could allow the technology to appear on some 2018 models such as the Camry and Sienna, but so far the company has only confirmed 2019 model support. Drivers will moreover have to use a wired iPhone connection, rather than wireless.
In 2015 Toyota infamously declared that it intended to stick with proprietary platforms for the foreseeable future, even as other automakers were preparing or already adding CarPlay. Apple's software began picking up traction in 2016 and is now on numerous vehicles, though availability on low-cost models remains an issue.
The new Avalon is shipping this spring, and will have CarPlay standard on all trims, Toyota said in a press release. The interface will display on a 9-inch touchscreen.
Unusually, while Android Auto support hasn't been announced, the car will also support some remote control functions by way of smartwatches and Amazon Alexa, such as starting the engine, locking and unlocking doors, and gauging fuel levels.
CarPlay will require Toyota's Enform 2.0 or Entune 3.0 multimedia systems, a spokesman told MacRumors. In theory that could allow the technology to appear on some 2018 models such as the Camry and Sienna, but so far the company has only confirmed 2019 model support. Drivers will moreover have to use a wired iPhone connection, rather than wireless.
In 2015 Toyota infamously declared that it intended to stick with proprietary platforms for the foreseeable future, even as other automakers were preparing or already adding CarPlay. Apple's software began picking up traction in 2016 and is now on numerous vehicles, though availability on low-cost models remains an issue.
Comments
Now can they put more leg room in their cars too? A subcompact Honda has as much legroom in the driver's seat as a compact Toyota.
Toyota owners of 2018 Camry or Sienna... start complaining as a Toyota person told the Car Connection that they will not be retrofitting 2018 models with this capability: http://bit.ly/2D4PFuY
I love CarPlay, it’s is definitely something I look for when getting a new car. It’s rather surprising to me that it took this long for Toyota to add it.
Gotta wait to see what the new Bronco really looks like though.
My question is does CarPlay not requiring FaceID every time you use it?
At comparable price which cars you consider pretty?
I wish the “tap support” part of your comment was true but our car has CarPlay and no touch screen. We have to use a clunky wheel to navigate and only through rotation, it doesn’t also act like a joystick which would be much better. So, if I’m on the “Home” button and want to get to the skip forward one track button I have to turn the wheel/dial clockwise and scroll by (I think) 8 other buttons. I end up using Siri quite a bit.
Glad I have it but wish it was wireless.
Best.