Apple Teases Major CarPlay Announcement for Late 2023

Everybody believed that Apple's annual hardware event taking place in September would witness this highly anticipated unveiling. The Cupertino-based tech giant typically announces new iPhone generations in September, and the moment was considered just right to host the debut of a new CarPlay experience, too.

The iPhone 15 is now alive and kicking, but the new CarPlay is still nowhere to be seen. Apple didn't say a word about CarPlay at the iPhone 15 launch event, making many believe that the updated experience could be delayed.

Now, it looks like the new-generation CarPlay is still on track for a 2023 release. Apple updated the CarPlay website with a short teaser, revealing that the first "vehicle announcements [are] coming in late 2023." No further specifics are available at this point, but this date alone is living confirmation that CarPlay 2.0 won't be delayed.

Apple indeed promised to launch the new CarPlay on MY 2024 vehicles in the United States, so this teaser aligns with the original announcement. Chances are that carmakers needed additional time to get CarPlay right in their new models, so we should witness the first announcements in October and November (December is rarely a good month for launching new cars, so the new CarPlay should see daylight in the next two months).

Compared to the current CarPlay version, the upcoming overhaul would allow Apple's system to become a direct competitor to Android Automotive. CarPlay 2.0 will have deeper integration into the vehicle, being able to read critical data, including battery information. As a result, it will provide advanced capabilities, such as automatic stops for charging and optimized routes according to your vehicle and specifications.

CarPlay 2.0 will use all displays in the cabin, including the instrument cluster and the infotainment screen, and come with an interface that aligns with the UI available on iPhone and iPad. It will feature widgets, letting drivers access essential data like calendar appointments by just peeking at the screen.

As a more integrated experience, CarPlay 2.0 will allow carmakers to customize the system's look to preserve their brand identity. Like Android Automotive, the new CarPlay will look different from one brand and model to another, though the underlying system will be the same in every case. Apple Maps will be integral to the new experience, and it's the reason the application received several major EV updates in the latest versions.

Beginning in iOS 17, Apple Maps also offers offline map support, allowing users to navigate without an Internet connection. The new operating system is available on the iPhone XS and newer.