New Apple CarPlay Ultra iPhone Integration Proving Controversial With Automakers

Motor Trend

2 days ago

Apple CarPlay phone integration has become indispensable for millions of drivers, and the tech giant is hoping that CarPlay Ultra, which expands CarPlay's territory from the touchscreen to the car's instrument cluster and allows control over core functions like air conditioning, will become its next big thing. Initially it was looking that way, with Apple touting a list of over a dozen automakers that had signed up to include the Ultra software on their cars. Now that the system is finally rolling out to customers, there are reports that automakers are balking at CarPlay Ultra and opting to stick with the standard version instead.
Apple's CarPlay Ultra is facing resistance from automakers like Audi, Volvo, and Renault, who prefer control over their infotainment systems and data. While some brands like Hyundai plan to adopt it, others remain undecided or silent. Aston Martin is currently the only user of CarPlay Ultra.
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We suspected this would be a problem, and a report by the Financial Times confirms it: automakers don't want to give up the creative control to design and implement infotainment features on their own, nor are eager to give a third-party—Apple—valuable data on both its customers driving habits and its vehicle systems integrations. One unnamed executive at Renault (one of the automakers touted by Apple as featuring CarPlay Ultra) is said by FT to have told Apple, 'Don't try to invade our own systems.'
Of the 18 automakers that had previously been linked to Apple CarPlay, FT reports that Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Polestar, and Renault are opting out of including the system on their future cars. Volvo confirmed to us FT 's reporting, while Polestar said the brand had 'nothing to announce' with regards to its use of CarPlay Ultra. An Audi spokesperson went further, telling us, 'While we continue to offer traditional CarPlay on our vehicles, we have chosen not to integrate Apple CarPlay Ultra into our current portfolio of cars as we have just introduced our all-new MMI interface in our latest models: the Q6 e-tron, A5, Q5 and A6 e-tron model lines.' Both Volvo and Polestar have also heavily invested in their own infotainment systems.
The other automakers who had been linked to CarPlay Ultra are Acura, Aston Martin, Ford, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Kia, Land Rover, Lincoln, Nissan, and Porsche. We reached out to each of them for comment on their CarPlay Ultra and general infotainment plans.
Ford, Lincoln, Acura, Jaguar, and Land Rover spokespeople told us that their respective brands did not have any comment on the matter.
The Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis told us that all three brands still intend to introduce Apple CarPlay Ultra in the future.
Honda, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Porsche did not have any official comment as of press time. Porsche has told the FT that it still planned on supporting CarPlay Ultra in the future. Apple did not respond to our requests for comment.
Tesla and Rivian currently don't offer CarPlay in any form on their vehicles, while GM is phasing it out in favor of a new operating system it built with Google.
Aston Martin is currently the only automaker to offer CarPlay Ultra. In our review of the new system, we found the Apple gauges, climate and radio controls, and the addition of iPhone-like widgets to be among the system's best features. You can read our full review here.