The long and often frustrating wait is almost over. Apple is now giving the finishing touches to the next-generation CarPlay, with the first models running it projected to launch this year.
Apple has recently confirmed that CarPlay 2.0 will debut in 2024, though the company didn't share more specifics. Porsche and Aston Martin confirmed they'd adopt the new CarPlay, with Ford and Honda likely to follow in the footsteps by the year's end.
While Apple has remained tight-lipped about everything related to the new-generation CarPlay, the essential tidbits have started to swirl around the web through unofficial channels or following references discovered in official software.
This is also the case with the list of apps pre-loaded with CarPlay 2.0.
Apple wants CarPlay 2.0 to offer a complete feature package similar to Android Automotive, providing carmakers with the necessary software to power all infotainment capabilities. Theoretically, car manufacturers would no longer have to invest in their solutions, relying entirely on Apple's platform.
The strategy is similar to the original Android Auto and CarPlay experience, which helped the automotive world deal with carmakers' lazy software efforts. Android Auto and CarPlay replaced the awful software support in new cars, providing drivers with one-tap access to essential capabilities like navigation and phone calls.
Apple has developed a set of first-party CarPlay apps whose existence was spotted in iOS 17.4 beta, a pre-release version of the iPhone operating system due in March. The work on these apps is still in progress, but Apple mentioning their names is a sign that the company is aiming for a complete package on the new-generation CarPlay.
Photo: Porsche
The full list of apps comprises eight items:
Auto Settings
Car Camera
Charge
Climate
Closures
Media
Tire Pressure
Trips
The Auto Settings app refers to a configuration interface for the integration between the paired iPhone and the vehicle. Users will be allowed to tweak the CarPlay experience in their car with general settings and possibly customization options, such as the color scheme and the theme. Apple will also allow carmakers to customize the look and feel of the infotainment experience to help them retain their brand identity.
The Car Camera app provides CarPlay with access to the parking camera. Users will be able to view real-time rear-view camera content on the infotainment screen running CarPlay 2.0, and chances are the application will load automatically when the transmission switches to reverse.
The Charge app is specifically aimed at electric vehicles. Android Automotive is currently exclusive to zero-emission vehicles, but Apple might be aiming for a more generic approach, allowing CarPlay 2.0 to be installed in vehicles with combustion engines, too. The app will display essential EV information, including the battery level. When the vehicle is plugged in, the app can show an estimate of the time remaining until the battery reaches 100%.
The Climate app has a straightforward purpose, offering one-tap access to the cabin temperature and the air conditioning settings. Additionally, it'll integrate other climate control options, including the heated seats.
Photo: Aston Martin
The Closures app bundled with CarPlay 2.0 will warn the driver when the vehicle's doors are not properly closed. It could also be connected to a mobile companion app to display the vehicle door status on a smartphone.
The Media app will integrate support for listening to music, podcasts, and radio stations. Apple Music and other popular options like Spotify will likely be integrated. SiriusXM will also be available in the United States.
The Tire Pressure app will be connected to the TPMS system and display tire pressure information on the CarPlay screen. The app could also offer support for a mobile companion app, letting drivers see the information on a mobile device. It will include notification support, displaying warnings when the tire pressure drops below a certain threshold defined by the carmaker.
Trips is the last app to be bundled with CarPlay, offering trip information, including the average speed, the total driving time, and the distance covered. It'll also display fuel or battery consumption statistics.
Photo: Packix
Most of these apps will be integrated into the CarPlay experience and not available separately, as is the case with Climate or Tire Pressure. However, Apple not integrating them into the operating system allows it to ship updates without releasing new OS versions. The apps will be updated through an integrated App Store, and if drivers enable the automatic updating, new versions will be installed without user input in the background.
The work on these apps is still underway, and while the references were found in iOS 17.4, the final version might not be ready until iOS 18 ships in the fall. iOS 18 is Apple's next big operating system update, and it will be pre-loaded with the iPhone 17. It's unclear if Apple will enforce certain restrictions for older iPhones when connecting to a CarPlay 2.0 vehicle. Still, we’ll probably get more information at the WWDC developer event in the spring. Apple is expected to preview CarPlay 2.0 and drop additional details, including the first models to adopt the new experience.
Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones. Full profile
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