BMW shuns Apple's 'iOS in the Car' to stick with its own technology [u]
After being one of the first car companies to offer iPod integration, BMW is surprisingly not on the list of carmakers that announced their support for Apple's new "iOS in the Car" functionality this week.
Update: In a statement to AutoBlog, BMW clarified its position on iOS in the Car integration. The German automaker said it is in close contact with Apple and is "investigating the technical challenges required to integrate iOS in the Car, but since a final decision had not been made, it was not a part of Apple's announcement."
The luxury automobile maker spoke up on the issue on Wednesday, revealing that BMW officials are not willing to change their cars to suit Apple's requirements for iOS integration.
"The upshot is that as we have such an advanced multimedia offer that has been in vehicles in various guises for more than a decade, it would not be that straight forward to start changing all of the architecture of a car as has been implied [by Apple]," a spokesperson told ArnoldClark.com. The spokesperson went on to say that the process for integrating iOS into a car's dashboard is "not as simple as it sounds."
Due to the architectural changes necessary to bring iOS to the BMW dashboard, the company does not expect that BMW models will see iOS in the Car in the short to mid-term. Instead, the company will be sticking with its iDrive and ConnectedDrive interfaces.
Further, the BMW spokesperson said that it is unlikely to see iOS in the Car becoming ubiquitous in the next few years, due to the fact that the interfaces carmakers put into their vehicles are planned out years in advance.
BMW has typically been quick to build integration with Apple products into its vehicles. The carmaker was among the first to build in support for the iPod nearly a decade ago, and it continually rolls out apps to make its cars work better with iOS devices.
BMW already confirmed last week that it will be integrating Siri Eyes Free mode into all of its 2014 cars.
Apple revealed iOS in the Car as part of a larger look at all of the features in iOS 7. Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Ferrari, Chevy, Infiniti, Kia, Hyundai, Volvo, Acura, Opel, and Jaguar have all announced support for the new iOS feature, which displays tweaked iOS content on a car's in-dashboard touchscreen.
Update: In a statement to AutoBlog, BMW clarified its position on iOS in the Car integration. The German automaker said it is in close contact with Apple and is "investigating the technical challenges required to integrate iOS in the Car, but since a final decision had not been made, it was not a part of Apple's announcement."
The luxury automobile maker spoke up on the issue on Wednesday, revealing that BMW officials are not willing to change their cars to suit Apple's requirements for iOS integration.
"The upshot is that as we have such an advanced multimedia offer that has been in vehicles in various guises for more than a decade, it would not be that straight forward to start changing all of the architecture of a car as has been implied [by Apple]," a spokesperson told ArnoldClark.com. The spokesperson went on to say that the process for integrating iOS into a car's dashboard is "not as simple as it sounds."
Due to the architectural changes necessary to bring iOS to the BMW dashboard, the company does not expect that BMW models will see iOS in the Car in the short to mid-term. Instead, the company will be sticking with its iDrive and ConnectedDrive interfaces.
Further, the BMW spokesperson said that it is unlikely to see iOS in the Car becoming ubiquitous in the next few years, due to the fact that the interfaces carmakers put into their vehicles are planned out years in advance.
BMW has typically been quick to build integration with Apple products into its vehicles. The carmaker was among the first to build in support for the iPod nearly a decade ago, and it continually rolls out apps to make its cars work better with iOS devices.
BMW already confirmed last week that it will be integrating Siri Eyes Free mode into all of its 2014 cars.
Apple revealed iOS in the Car as part of a larger look at all of the features in iOS 7. Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Ferrari, Chevy, Infiniti, Kia, Hyundai, Volvo, Acura, Opel, and Jaguar have all announced support for the new iOS feature, which displays tweaked iOS content on a car's in-dashboard touchscreen.
Comments
I was more surprised to not see the world's largest automaker: Toyota.
As was I.
I was surprised not to see BMW there during the presentation. I hope that it simply reflects negotiations-in-progress.
If they are not on board, it will probably affect my decision to repeat purchase.
Guess my next car won't be a BMW.
That title switches owner quite a bit.
Reminiscent of the industry saying Apple couldn't build a phone.
"the interfaces carmakers put into their vehicles are planned out years in advance."
Really? Is that why they all look like crap? Because by the time you put it in your cars, it already looks decades old?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
As was I.
What's the benefit to carmakers over their existing systems which have been in place for years? They would have to create entire new systems and retrain everybody.
I don't see it being the a deal breaker to very many people buying a car at all. What kinds of things iOS in the car do that BMW's iDrive or even Ford's MyFord Touch can't do?
Nice to see Volvo on there (just picked up our first one, a 2009 model, and it's really nice). Our BMWs are all older so I can't speak to their "advanced multimedia offer" for the past decade (most recent we have is 2002 and it's technology is, imho, not great). Hopefully they've greatly improved from early versions of iDrive which I saw (not pleasant to use).
I see integrating with customers existing mobile tech as the way of the future, not big technology stacks built into the vehicle (with non-upgradabe hardware). Just like iPads for the kids in the back make way more sense than built-in video kits from the auto manufacturer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dasanman69
That title switches owner quite a bit.
Except for 2011, it's generally been Toyota based on straight volume. Now they've gotten hurt in China of late and the US a little, so the top 3 are all fairly close between T/GM/VW but as of latest numbers it's still Toyota.
It's iOS...
Quote:
Originally Posted by jr_b
Anything would be an improvement over BMW's system.
More precisely, ANYTHING is an improvement than a BMW - period.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
It's iOS...
Really? It's the full iOS system and you can do everything you can on iOS? Games and everything on the car screen? Does that mean that we can't check vehicle systems/info on the screen anymore? Can't control satellite radio? I'm not sure I fully understand what this system will look like and how it will integrate into the car's mechanical systems.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jr_b
Anything would be an improvement over BMW's system.
Not too bad once you get used to it. I do agree however, the Apple solution would be so much better.