CarPlay 2, also known as the next generation of CarPlay, was unveiled in the summer of 2022. Apple mentioned that a list of compatible vehicles would be shared in 2023, later revealing that two manufacturers would feature it in 2024.
Today marks the final opportunity to meet that deadline, and Apple’s CarPlay page continues to uphold that promise. Unless an unexpected announcement occurs later today, the looming question remains: Will the timeline change to 2025, or is this initiative now shelved permanently?
CarPlay
Originally introduced as “iOS in the Car” in 2013 before being rebranded to CarPlay, the first iteration made its debut with iOS 7. In 2019, it received a visual redesign.
The CarPlay Dashboard is the most significant reimagining of the CarPlay Home screen since its inception. While features to rearrange and hide apps have been introduced over the years, CarPlay in iOS 13 introduces an additional Home screen next to the existing icon grid, showcasing a dynamic array of information.
The left section of the Dashboard displays your current location on a map, navigation instructions, or a summary of your route, while the right section is even more dynamic, offering quick access to upcoming calendar events that may include addresses, route suggestions (like returning home), audio app controls, and Siri Suggestions for actions like opening your garage upon arrival.
CarPlay 2 promises
At WWDC 2022, Apple unveiled a significant update to CarPlay, where the feature would dominate the entire dashboard.
This next generation of CarPlay represents the ultimate iPhone experience in vehicles, delivering content across all driver screens, including the instrument cluster, ensuring a unified design that showcases the best of both your car and iPhone. Controls for vehicle functions such as radio and climate settings will also be managed through CarPlay. Moreover, various personalization options, ranging from widgets to curated gauge cluster designs, allow for a uniquely tailored experience for each driver.
Initially, the website indicated “vehicle announcements coming in late 2023,” listing a remarkable lineup of automakers:
- Land Rover
- Mercedes Benz
- Lincoln
- Audi
- Volvo
- Honda
- Porsche
- Nissan
- Ford
- Jaguar
- Acura
- Polestar
- Infiniti
- Renault
As the year closes, both Porsche and Aston Martin—who were not included in the original list—have announced plans to release new models featuring CarPlay 2 in 2024. Yet as of December 31, Apple’s website still presents the rollout as imminent this year.
Will it launch in 2025, or is the project dead?
Unless there’s a major car reveal on this last day of the year, that anticipated date will need to be postponed to 2025. The more substantial question remains whether it will materialize at all.
This year, one of the initially listed companies reversed its decision. When The Verge’s Nilay Patel asked CEO Ola Källenius if Mercedes-Benz would eventually support the next-gen CarPlay, allowing Apple to have full control of infotainment, he succinctly stated, “the short answer is no.”
At that time, we noted the silence among other car manufacturers, which did not bode well. In September, Porsche disclosed it had no updates to share, and Aston Martin opted not to comment entirely.
With the ongoing lack of communication, it appears quite plausible that other brands have come to the same conclusion as Mercedes. Considering today’s vehicles’ technological complexities, ceding control of displays to a third-party vendor seems impractical, especially as we approach genuine self-driving technology.
We will have to watch if Apple adjusts the timeline or discreetly removes any mention of the next-gen CarPlay. Regardless, if I had to wager, I would speculate it either won’t launch at all or be presented in a significantly diluted form, resembling more of an upgrade to CarPlay 1.2.
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Image: Apple
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