Apple today announced nine additional partners committed to shipping CarPlay integration in future vehicles marking the first expansion to that list since the feature was officially introduced in March. Joining the list of existing CarPlay partners for 2014 and beyond is Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Mazda, and Ram. Each new auto manufacturer is committed to integrating CarPlay in models planned to be announced and released in the future.
Audi, as you may recall, first mentioned its plans to introduce CarPlay in an announcement last week, and yesterday the luxury car maker expanded on those plans saying support will roll out in Europe in 2015 and the United States during the following year.
CarPlay partners with plans to ship vehicles sporting the feature this year include Hyundai, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Honda (although Honda has yet to announce specific plans).
In addition to new models featuring CarPlay, aftermarket solutions from both Pioneer and Alpine have been announced as partners with Apple; Pioneer’s support is expected to hit certain existing displays this summer.
While Apple first demoed ‘iOS in the Car’ at WWDC 2013, the company officially announced its plans for close integration between the iPhone and the car in March and dubbed it CarPlay.
The feature supported in iPhone 5s/5c/5 running iOS 7.1 or later integrates apps like Phone, Messages, Maps, and Music to built-in infotainment displays and car audio systems. Functionality from these apps can be controlled by voice commands and in-car controls as well as by the dash display rather than by the iPhone.
Other apps like Beats Music, Spotify, and Stitcher. Last week MLB At Bat was added to that list marking the first additional app since CarPlay was announced earlier this year.
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9 new partners is misleading since 6 of them are Chrysler/ Fiat brands.
7 I forgot Apha.
Fiat actually own Chrysler not to be picky. Fiat motor company also own Ferrari which I believe was added to the list earlier this year. Abarth are the tuner company for fiat so they are actually just fiats anyway… Quite literally
Strange Maserati haven’t been added yet, as that is also owned by Fiat. So look out for that announcement soon enough. (I’m a huge Italian car fan, I don’t know nearly as much as I should. But I love them none the less, My current car is a fiat. My last car was a fiat, my new car will be a fiat.)
Since their CarPlay announcement, Apple has been showing the Honda Civic in their demo photos and yet Honda is the only “committed partner” to not share their 2014 plans. That’s so weird.
Why not Tesla?? Or wolkswagen, renault…
Tesla has their own system.
So does volvo yet they integrate seamlessly with CarPlay
VW owns Audi. I’m sure they’ll be on soon enough.
This is awesome! I currently own a Mazda 3, and was looking at buying a Mazda CX-5 in the next two or three years, so if by then Mazda will support CarPlay, I will be a very happy camper!
Sorry to say it, but the whole CarPlay UX and the way it all works is awful. Google’s UX and eco system is way way better and better conceived. I wish Apple would stop just doing things ‘because’ and focus on core competencies, such as software like Aperture that they just abandoned despite the fact it is WAY better conceived and more pleasurable to use than the awful iPhoto.
Hmm, I wonder how useful this will be compared to e.g. mounting an iPad mini in the car. In my Tiguan I always had a full sized iPad on the middle of the dashboard running Navigon, maps, spotify, di.fm, facetime, skype etc. Loved the 10″ navigation, entertainment and communication center…
With Pioneer’s AppRadio head unit, in addition to Carplay you can also mirror the screen of your iPhone/iPad onto the 7″ head unit display so you can still display all those apps on the in-dash screen.
In the case of apps that are compatible with Pioneer’s AppRadio standard you can even use the screen as a remote touch-screen for you iOS device.
Apple and GM. What a great partnership.
Tesla? Tesla? Tesla? . . .
Volkswagen?