Apple's takeover of in-car screens hits stumbling block – report

Apple’s plans to have its new CarPlay Ultra system, which is displayed across multiple screens and was set to be used by multiple automakers, has reportedly hit a hurdle.

Originally revealed in 2022, then previewed in Aston Martin and Porsche renders in 2023, but not due to arrive in production vehicles from the former until this year, Apple CarPlay Ultra was set to feature in Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Renault and Volvo vehicles.

But according to the Financial Times, via Ars Technica, none of these automakers intend to offer the new system in their vehicles.

A Renault executive reportedly went so far as to tell Apple: “Don’t try to invade our own systems”.

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These brands were among the 16 set to use the system, the others being Acura, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover and Nissan.

Hyundai, Kia and Genesis subsequently announced they would launch Apple CarPlay Ultra too.

Porsche has confirmed it still plans to offer the system, but the German automaker offered no timeline for its rollout.

Jaguar and Land Rover are reportedly still evaluating it, while Ford, Infiniti and Nissan said they had no information to share with the Financial Times.

Rather than simply appear on the central infotainment system, CarPlay Ultra appears across other screens where fitted in a vehicle, such as the digital instrument cluster.

In addition to the usual Apple apps available in-car, it allows users to control vehicle functions like the radio and climate control via Apple’s interface.

There are also customisable colour palettes and wallpapers, and widgets that can be added to any screen.

Automakers may be avoiding the system so they can develop their own, and in turn generate more vehicle data as well as revenue from in-car services – even if developing their own systems comes at an expense, and as buyers become increasingly demanding when it comes to in-car tech.

General Motors has gone so far as to drop even regular Apple CarPlay from its latest electric vehicles (EVs), including the new Cadillac Optiq (pictured above) and Vistiq.

A survey conducted by McKinsey in 2023 found almost half of car buyers wouldn’t choose a vehicle that lacked Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, while 85 per cent of car owners who have Apple CarPlay or a similar service preferred it over an automaker’s built-in system.

Apple claims 98 per cent of new cars in the US come with its standard CarPlay system, though notable contrarians include Tesla, Rivian and some GM models.