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VW says Apple stopped it from demoing wireless CarPlay at CES

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CarPlay in iOS 9 adds several new features including wireless connectivity over wired Lightning connections, but current cars don’t yet support the new protocol that offers the better experience. None of the new aftermarket displays from Pioneer, JBL, and others from this year support wireless CarPlay, and automakers like Ford and Chevy that are rolling out CarPlay support this year are focusing first on the wired experience and not talking about wireless yet.

CarPlay partner Volkswagen, however, apparently did plan to demonstrate their integration of wireless CarPlay with their concept infotainment system, but pulled the demo from CES this year at Apple’s request, Car and Driver reports:


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Former Mercedes R&D chief leaves Apple after just a year to join Volkswagen

After just over a year at Apple, former Mercedes R&D chief Johann Jungwirth left the company earlier this month to join Volkswagen AG as the new ‘Head of Digital Transformation’. Even though his official title at Apple was “Director of Mac Systems Engineering”, the executive was rumored to be working on the company’s electric car codenamed “Project Titan” due to his extensive automotive background and the timing of the hire, which was followed by several other engineering hires with experience in the auto industry.
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Almost every 2016 Volkswagen model in almost every trim level will get CarPlay support, starting this week

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2015 Volkswagon eGolf electric car

Volkswagen has announced that almost every 2016 VW model “in virtually every trim” will get support for CarPlay, with the first models arriving in showrooms this week.

As the people’s car brand, we knew that it was important to democratize these technologies across the Volkswagen line-up, with features like App-Connect ensuring that more consumers can integrate their smart devices in a wide range of trims on virtually every model the company sells […] 

App-Connect provides seamless smartphone integration through three interfaces: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink.

“Democratization” only goes so far – the company will offer four different head units of varying sophistication, depending on price level … 
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Volkswagen debuts Apple Watch app that alerts you when your teens speed and more

Volkswagen announced its new Apple Watch application today that will allow users to control their VW Car-Net-enabled vehicles remotely from their wrists (via TechCrunch). Functions like door locks and fuel/charge level indicators will be available directly in the app. Drivers can even get directions from their current location to their parked car.

There will also be new setting that allows parents to set speed limits for their teen drivers. When that limit is crossed, Volkswagen says, the parent will get a notification on their watch alerting them to the fact. Parents can opt to set up geographic boundaries as well, and be alerted when their teens drive outside the designated area.

Volkswagen did not provide a specific availability date. You can read VW’s full press release below. Last week a similar app was shown off for controlling Tesla’s Model S.

VOLKSWAGEN TO OFFER CONNECTED-CAR FEATURES ENABLED BY NEW APPLE WATCH

May 5, 2015

  • Volkswagen’s Car-Net® app will sync with new Apple Watch 
  • VW customers will be able to remotely lock*/unlock doors; check fuel level or charge status; set up speed and boundary alerts and more from their Apple Watch

Herndon, VA (May 5th, 2015) — Volkswagen of America, Inc., is excited to announce that VW’s Car-Net® platform will enable Apple Watch functionality for many new Volkswagen vehicles. The Apple Watch app will be available globally on all VW Car-Net® enabled vehicles allowing for enhanced connectivity on the go.

“These high-tech features, available through the Car-Net® app for Apple Watch, are paving the way to Volkswagen’s future of connected vehicles,” said Abdallah Shanti, Executive Vice President and Group Chief Information Officer for Region Americas. “As a part of Volkswagen’s Digital Vehicle Management Platform, this was a truly collaborative effort between our Technical Development and Group IT teams.”

The Car-Net® app for Apple Watch will allow VW customers to control a host of features and functions that are available through the Car-Net mobile app and Customer Web Portal directly from their wrist. Owners can keep an eye on their vehicle from afar, remotely locking* and unlocking doors and viewing the status of doors, windows and sun roof (open or closed). Finding a parked vehicle is a snap, with a map of the current vehicle location, walking or driving directions to the vehicle and the ability to honk the horn and flash the lights remotely. Customers can also receive speed and boundary alert notifications to monitor certain drivers in their households.

Drivers of Volkswagen vehicles with gasoline and TDI® Clean Diesel engines may remotely check their fuel level, while those driving the all-electric e-Golf  will be able to check their current charge and estimated driving range, turn charging on or off and access climate control features.

VW Car-Net® is available on select trims of 2014 and later Beetle, CC, Eos, Jetta, Passat and Tiguan models and on all trims of 2015 and later Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen and e-Golf models. For additional details, go to www.vw.com/features/vw-car-net/.

Car-Net for Apple Watch will be available in the App Store for Apple Watch, found in the Apple Watch app on iPhone®.

Volkswagen is committed to driving the development of more connected and intelligent vehicles. The VW Car-Net® integration with Apple Watch adds to the recent announcement made at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, introducing the second-generation “modular infotainment platform” (MIB II) which will feature advanced app and smartphone integration. Along with the new infotainment system, MirrorLink™ will integrate the apps and operating layout of numerous smartphones (including Samsung, HTC, LG and Sony) into cars. When MirrorLink™ is introduced, two other interfaces will also be launched under the App-Connect label: Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ (Google®).

About Volkswagen of America, Inc. 
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA), an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. VWoA sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, CC, Eos, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan, and Touareg vehicles through approximately 652 independent U.S. dealers.

* On Model Year 2016 vehicles and later

Nissan, Volkswagen & Daimler execs respond to Apple Car reports

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It was only a matter of time before executives from various automakers responded to news that Apple is looking into developing its own electric vehicle. The first responses come from CEOs of Volkswagen, Daimler and Nissan during interviews at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and the Geneva car show this week.
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Volkswagen confirms plans to launch CarPlay support later this year

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Volkswagen, at CES 2015, has finally announced what it plans to do with both CarPlay and Android Auto. The German auto manufacturer has confirmed that it will begin shipping cars with CarPlay capabilities later this year in its 2016 models. We reported back July of last year that Volkswagen and Apple were in talks to bring CarPlay to VW’s 2016 models.


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Volkswagen in talks with Apple to bring CarPlay to 2016 VW models

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Volkswagen’s VW line, one of the few notable holdouts from announcing future integration of CarPlay into its vehicles, is in talks with Apple to embed the iOS-based feature, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions.

An announcement from the two companies is expected in the coming months, but specifics on which models will receive CarPlay are currently unavailable, except sources say that Volkswagen is targeting CarPlay for 2016 models, not 2015 versions…


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Valeo’s Park4U remotely parks a Volkswagen with an iPhone

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeRUkNRyycA]

Looks like Bentley isn’t the only one unveiling some new Apple-related features at this year’s International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Auto-part and equipment supplier Valeo was showing off a variation of their Automatic Park4U system, this time remotely parking a Volkswagen using an iPhone.

Equipped with only the ability to brake and accelerate, CNET explains a “Valeo representative stood outside the car, a Volkswagen Sharan, and parked it merely by using an iPhone app.” We dug up the video above posted by Valeo that shows the iPhone app in action towards the end.


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