
I think automakers should let CarPlay Ultra shake up the industry

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Apple CarPlay is software that Apple writes and gives away to automobile manufactures. Installed on an infotainment system, it can pair with a driver’s iPhone for a seamless way to use their device hands-free. In an industry full of glitchy, proprietary in-car software, CarPlay has proven to be a reliable way get navigation or stream music in your car. A decade after Apple introduced CarPlay, it is offering CarPlay Ultra. And it’s about darn time.
CarPlay Ultra is Apple’s latest project. And it goes way beyond the center infotainment screen. Apple explained, ” It provides information for all of the driver’s screens, including real-time content and gauges in the instrument cluster, while reflecting the automaker’s look and feel and offering drivers a customizable experience.”
Apple has proven it can build, update, and maintain software that works in the complex ecosystem of a car. And to be blunt, automakers have not. Not only is CarPlay preferable to many smaller automakers’ infotainment software, but software problems make up the majority of recalls these days.
Last week, both the Cadillac Lyriq and Lincoln Nautilus suffered recalls. Both have various screens–including the driver’s gauge cluster–mysteriously going blank. Both automakers are struggling to write a software update to fix the problem. If Apple wants to build a better digital gauge cluster, it’s high time we let it try.
Just like with the OG CarPlay, Apples rolling it out in luxury cars first. CarPlay Ultra’s trial run will be in the next generation of Aston Martin vehicles. The Hyundai/Kia/Genesis family of brands wants to be next. You can see TopGear’s review of CarPlay Ultra in the video embedded below: