- BMW says he has no plans to integrate Carplay Ultra into future cars
- Manufacturers are increasingly resorting to internal information and entertainment
- Aston Martin is currently the only brand offered by Apple technology
Apple Carplay threw a lot of fanfare at the end of May, adorning the innumerable screens in the impressive Aston Martin DBX 707 model.
But only weeks after their presentation for the world, several renowned automotive manufacturers, who were once scheduled to work with technology, have begun to retreat. This time, it’s BMW.
Recently, a Renault employee was even summoned by saying “you do not invade our systems” by the Financial Times when questioned about future associations with the technological giant.
Now, a BMW AG spokesman has stated that the company currently “has no plans to integrate Apple CarPlay Ultra,” according to a publication of the Blus Independent BMW seen by 9to5Mac.
On the other hand, German automotive power is supporting its own reinvention of the popular Idrive system, which was first debuted in CES at the end of last year.
The system, which will be seen for the first time in the next Neue Klasse IX, includes new haptic controls and a full -wide screen that covers all the width of the windshield. Delivering this new and innovative digital real estate to Apple feels contrary to intuition.
As a result, the German car manufacturer will still admit the traditional Carplay and Android Auto, but its use will be limited to the main information and entertainment screen.
Analysis: Carplay Ultra is a step too far
My early practical experience with Apple Carplay Ultra showed that the system solved many of the irritating problems that arose from the traditional use of Carplay.
Mainly, the ability to adjust the significant configuration of cars or enjoy a DAB or satellite radio without leaving the carplay environment is a blessing.
However, when it was activated in the beautiful surroundings of a Aston Martin, the system felt too invasive and the completely digital and very apple hand lost part of its unique charm.
This is the primary problem that faces many manufacturers, since most feel that allowing Apple to take control of the entire infotainment experience not only suffocates the differentiation of the brand, but also sees Apple potentially managing valuable data.
Instead, Porsche is still the only manufacturer in which I can think that he has worked with the Apple automotive developer tools kit to produce a kind of house halfway.
Connect an iPhone to a new Macan, Taycan or Panamera and you can still adjust the air conditioning temperature and the toy with the car configuration, without leaving the Carplay environment or renouncing the only screen of the Porsche digital driver.
For me, it seems that Apple needs to follow this route and improve the standard Carplay experience, which should happen with iOS 26.
Otherwise, future cars run the risk of feeling homogeneous both outside and inside.
