I have repeatedly discussed GM’s misguided decision to eliminate CarPlay from all its upcoming EVs. In contrast, manufacturers like Ford have committed to enhancing their support for CarPlay, providing users with maximum flexibility.
In a recent interview, Hyundai executive Olabisi Boyle stated that the company is still “maintaining Android Auto and CarPlay” … at least for the time being.
Boyle, who is Hyundai’s senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy, made these remarks during a discussion with InsideEVs this week, emphasizing that Hyundai aims to “offer users all the options” as the automotive landscape evolves.
She compared the current situation to the changing EV charging scenario in the United States. Several manufacturers, Hyundai included, have unveiled plans to switch from CCS to NACS for charging, a connector initially developed by Tesla. Meanwhile, automakers are focusing on equipping customers with adapters that allow them to access both NACS and CCS chargers.
“At the moment, we are still supporting Android Auto and CarPlay,” Boyle clarified. “It’s somewhat similar to EV charging. As we advance, we want to provide all available options.”
Another point Boyle raised was the importance of continuing to provide internal combustion engine vehicles and hybrids as the market transitions towards EVs. “Eventually, we will all transition to being fully electric,” Boyle noted to InsideEVs. “But this transformation will require time, and businesses need to ensure they remain viable during that period. So having a flexible strategy is essential.”
Looking ahead, Boyle hinted that alternatives to CarPlay and Android Auto could emerge:
Regardless of whether manufacturer software and phone-mirroring functions coexist in the future, Boyle believes the automotive sector will ultimately settle on some common standard. Given what Hyundai has in the works, she anticipates that there could be more advanced options than CarPlay and Android Auto “that people aren’t even considering right now.” That, she suggested, “might represent the future.”
DMN’s Take
While Boyle’s statements are reassuring for Hyundai drivers in the near term, they don’t convey much confidence for the long-term outlook. The Hyundai executive seems to imply that the company considers CarPlay to be a temporary fix as it further develops its own infotainment solutions.
In contrast, GM abandoned CarPlay with the promise of creating a rival system to Apple’s phone mirroring technology. At least Hyundai appears to understand the risks associated with taking that route.
It’s also notable that Hyundai has not joined the ranks of automakers supporting the next-gen CarPlay initiative from Apple.
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