Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Apple
Apple teased the new-generation CarPlay with much fanfare last year at WWDC, promising more details in late 2023. The first vehicles fitted with the new CarPlay were due in 2024.
2024 is almost upon us, but Apple still claims that a "late 2023" announcement is still on the table for the new-generation CarPlay.
The company did not remove the late 2023 reference from its official website, claiming that the first vehicle announcements would be made by the end of the year.
December is never a good month to take the wraps off major products, especially because the interest in new unveilings is dropping. The holiday spirit takes charge, companies typically let their employees spend more time with their families, sometimes for nearly half of December, so a new big product would have a hard time gaining attention. It's why the latest important announcements are made in November, with most companies then waiting until January to share their latest big news.
Apple claims this won't be the case, as the new-generation CarPlay is still due this year. I doubt it, and I'm more inclined to believe the iPhone maker forgot about the late 2023 reference on its website.
The new-generation CarPlay is a critical product for Apple's expansion in the automotive space. Compared to the current CarPlay version, it uses all displays on the dashboard and gets access to more vehicle functions.
It can also display more information on the instrument cluster (versus the existing integrations, which only allow navigation directions) and bring the iPhone in sync with the vehicle with widgets and other data available on the smartphone.
The new CarPlay won't be available in existing vehicles, requiring new hardware. Vehicles equipped with the existing CarPlay generation won't support the new version, and upgrading won't be possible.
Apple originally said it was working with the biggest carmakers to adopt the new-generation CarPlay, promising to disclose full information on what models will offer the upgraded platform beginning in 2024. We're only weeks away from the end of the year, and despite the official reference on Apple's website, the company is likely to miss the target.
The iPhone maker will probably remove the reference in the coming days and release an announcement in early 2024. However, it's unclear why the new-generation CarPlay isn't yet ready for an official unveiling, especially as Apple is believed to have worked with several top carmakers, including Ford.
Apple must move fast in this space as Android Automotive gains traction. Google's operating system is already available in a growing number of vehicles on the road, offering a similar feature lineup to Apple's new-generation CarPlay, including deeper vehicle integration for services like Google Maps and Google Assistant. Android Automotive does not require a mobile device to run.
The company did not remove the late 2023 reference from its official website, claiming that the first vehicle announcements would be made by the end of the year.
December is never a good month to take the wraps off major products, especially because the interest in new unveilings is dropping. The holiday spirit takes charge, companies typically let their employees spend more time with their families, sometimes for nearly half of December, so a new big product would have a hard time gaining attention. It's why the latest important announcements are made in November, with most companies then waiting until January to share their latest big news.
Apple claims this won't be the case, as the new-generation CarPlay is still due this year. I doubt it, and I'm more inclined to believe the iPhone maker forgot about the late 2023 reference on its website.
The new-generation CarPlay is a critical product for Apple's expansion in the automotive space. Compared to the current CarPlay version, it uses all displays on the dashboard and gets access to more vehicle functions.
It can also display more information on the instrument cluster (versus the existing integrations, which only allow navigation directions) and bring the iPhone in sync with the vehicle with widgets and other data available on the smartphone.
The new CarPlay won't be available in existing vehicles, requiring new hardware. Vehicles equipped with the existing CarPlay generation won't support the new version, and upgrading won't be possible.
Apple originally said it was working with the biggest carmakers to adopt the new-generation CarPlay, promising to disclose full information on what models will offer the upgraded platform beginning in 2024. We're only weeks away from the end of the year, and despite the official reference on Apple's website, the company is likely to miss the target.
The iPhone maker will probably remove the reference in the coming days and release an announcement in early 2024. However, it's unclear why the new-generation CarPlay isn't yet ready for an official unveiling, especially as Apple is believed to have worked with several top carmakers, including Ford.
Apple must move fast in this space as Android Automotive gains traction. Google's operating system is already available in a growing number of vehicles on the road, offering a similar feature lineup to Apple's new-generation CarPlay, including deeper vehicle integration for services like Google Maps and Google Assistant. Android Automotive does not require a mobile device to run.
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