Apple isn’t giving its CarPlay technology a full redo, but it is getting some upgrades this year. The move comes as competition between Android Auto and Apple CarPlay grows stronger in light of rapid product evolution within the companies and their products that are designed to interact with vehicles.
Apple CarPlay is available in 97 percent of the new cars sold in the U.S. and 80 percent of the new cars sold worldwide.
The iOS 13 version of Apple CarPlay is shown here.Photo courtesy of BMW
Apple CarPlay was introduced in 2013. It currently allows for phone, Apple Music, Apple Maps, calendar, messages, AudioBooks, and podcast functionality.Apple CarPlay users will have more than light or dark modes to choose from. They’ll be getting new wallpaper options with multicolor backgrounds that look similar to default background options on Apple’s iOS system.
Additionally, Apple has introduced three new types of apps for parking, ordering food, and electric vehicle charging. Those types join the roster of four categories that are currently available including audio, navigation (including Waze), automaker (vehicle-specific controls), and messaging/voice over IP (VOIP).
Users can utilize Apple CarPlay functionality via a cord or wireless connection, depending on what their vehicle allows.
The area of the system devoted to electric vehicle charging is part of a larger electric vehicle component added to iOS 14 and announced today during the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC).
During WWDC, Apple also announced that BMW would be the first automaker to receive the ability to use Apple’s phone-as-key technology.
