Much delayed next generation CarPlay is still coming, says Apple
Apple has issued a rare statement concerning its CarPlay project, saying that despite delays, the company continues to work with several car makers to bring it to market.
The new CarPlay would take over all car information and entertainment functions -- image credit: Apple
This is another rare move from Apple, following its 2022 unusual sneak peek at what it calls the next generation of CarPlay. While various car manufacturers have expressed support for the new system, nothing actually drove out of the showrooms by Apple's planned date of the end of 2024.
Now the company has finally removed that 2024 date from its website, and also issued a statement.
The next generation of CarPlay builds on years of success and insights gained from CarPlay, delivering the best of Apple and the automaker in a deeply integrated and customizable experience. We continue to work closely with several automakers, enabling them to showcase their unique brand and visual design philosophies in the next generation of CarPlay. Each car brand will share more details as they near the announcements of their models that will support the next generation of CarPlay.
Apple made its statement first to MacRumors. It's the only update about CarPlay since December 2023's promotion of future Porsche and Aston Martin cars.
As statements go, though, Apple's latest is no more than a holding message -- and a stepping back from committing to dates. It was already clear that the company was continuing to work on CarPlay as some details appeared in a regulator filing in November 2024, so there is nothing new in the announcement.
Outside of Apple's control
The problem is that CarPlay is one project that Apple cannot completely control. It has to work, and work very closely, with car manufacturers.
It's not even as if Apple can develop its CarPlay software and then hand it over to the car makers. The whole point of the new CarPlay is that it replaces every system in the cars it is used in.
So instead of being a screen with maps, music and a few apps, the new CarPlay is the car's speedo. It is the rev counter, the air conditioning controller -- it is everything in the car beyond steering and the drive mechanism.
Since it also necessarily has to be different for every car -- it has to fit in with existing displays on the dashboard, or the manufacturer has to design new ones -- it is really a bespoke app.
Consequently instead of developing one CarPlay, Apple and its car manufacturing partners are developing many. At its original sneak peek in 2022, Apple claimed to be working with 14 firms, so that's really 14 different development projects.
Car makers have their own agenda
Car manufacturers do not work for Apple, and they have their own development cycles. With CarPlay becoming so much more than an in-car entertainment system, it's not like the car makers will wait until the last minute to fit it.
But they will wait until they are ready. New car design can take place over years, and it is a complex job of which the control and entertainment systems are just a part.
Apple knows this, of course, so it was extra unusual that it would do that sneak peek at all. And it was perhaps rash for it to announce dates of when the first cars would appear.
At the time of that sneak peek, though, there was speculation that Apple was rather forced into it. Some car manufacturers who had previously supported the existing version of CarPlay were abandoning it, even if not very successfully.
There was also speculation back in 2022 that this CarPlay sneak peek was really a glimpse into what the then-forthcoming Apple Car would look like. The Apple Car project has reportedly since been cancelled, so even with all its delays, CarPlay is doing better than that.
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Comments
I don't really understand why? It must cost them a lot of money to develop their own systems, and do they make money from it? does anyone actually ever subscribe to their SatNav updates?! do they generate an income some other way?
Regardless, for me the current CarPlay implementation is excellent and I expect will be the best we have for the foreseeable future.
EDIT: I give up on trying to highlight and add links to text. The text editor on this site is just plain awful.
As mentioned in the article, it's possible that part of the goal was for the new version to steer Apple into the age of smart cars. Now that that idea seems to have been written off, it could still have a use for iPhone users but just without an Apple Car. Apple CarPlay Plus. An upgrade but nothing really drastic.
I can understand why the 'old school' manufacturers are reluctant to let Apple dig even further into their cars, especially as their cars basically need to be truly 'smart' going forward and that smartness will gain more weight over time. It's already happening in China.
Apple would love for manufacturers to become dependent in its offerings and sit between them and their customers.
That looks very unlikely unless there is some easy way to switch between suppliers easily (and capable suppliers may be few and far between).
Then there is the question of who needs who more?
Can Apple really offer what carmakers want? Or is Apple willing to pay to get CarPlay into vehicles?
The Google/Apple default search engine deal springs to mind here.
Another option would be for Apple to play a far bigger role in the development and sale of the car, effectively making Apple a manufacturing and sales partner (using Apple Retail Stores as showrooms.
In that scenario there are definitely many areas where a technology focused company could play a vital role.
The problem is that Apple doesn't have any of those levers to pull.
It is not offering, powertrains, LiDAR or GOD networks, batteries or charging infrastructure, self driving solutions, AR-HUDs, audio solutions, mini-data centers, 5G and V2X communications or a plethora of other NEV essentials.
While most 'Western' users may be happy envisioning what their future cars may be able to do, it all pales when compared to many Chinese solutions, and many western automakers are already rumoured to be actively seeking Chinese collaboration for the cars they want to sell in that market and perhaps in other markets too.
In that sense I can't see Apple even beginning to be a challenger in China. Especially seeing as back in 2021 it was already way behind the Chinese domestic brands. They've moved on to far more advanced solutions while Apple hasn't budged.
The development phase of new cars in China is also very short.
There is a silver, if limited, lining here though. Chinese brands (in the sense of smart connected solutions) are going to be banned in the US. That leaves the door open to Apple if, and it's a big if, large US domestic players are open to collaboration. The problem there is that we know some major players are moving away from Apple as an option for deep integration.
The big unknown for me is Tesla. I have no idea how well their solution stacks up against the Chinese offerings.
2. Android Automotive is starting to make inroads into many car brands and it's getting better. There are a couple of car brands that have Google's services built-in without the use of an Android Phone. The next major areas of focus with respect to consumer technology will be: a) AI, b) Robotics, c) Automotive, d) Home Automation, e) Health
These are areas Apple should be a major player in.
…just sayin’…