After weeks of speculation, Apple announced CarPlay Ultra, the next-generation version of its popular infotainment software, during its OEM dealer conference on Thursday. This latest version of CarPlay, first revealed three years ago, adds some truly exhilarating touches. When it comes to customizing their vehicle, users are more powerful than ever. Considering the timing of its appearances, Aston Martin could be the first automaker to offer CarPlay Ultra in their vehicles. This thrilling new feature comes as a North American first.
For most users, the real benefit of CarPlay Ultra will be the ability to manage certain car functions straight from their iPhones. To enjoy all of these capabilities, users need an iPhone 12 or newer with at least iOS 18.5 installed. The new system will provide a much more cohesive and holistic experience. Functions such as backup camera feeds will still “punch through” the CarPlay user interface to make sure key features are readily available.
The announcement created tremendous buzz. Mercedes-Benz has announced it will skip support for CarPlay Ultra altogether in its upcoming cars. This important decision underscores the intensely competitive environment among automotive technology competitors, as Apple looks to strengthen its foothold in the market against Google. For years, Google had stuck its Android Auto operating system into other automakers’ vehicles. This incredibly savvy play has positioned Google to be a runaway winner in the automotive space.
The rollout of CarPlay Ultra comes about half a year later than originally expected. Working with Aston Martin’s design team, Apple has created bespoke themes for this new iteration of CarPlay. Users can customize their interface further by picking one of 12 distinct colors or a selection of animated or still wallpapers to suit their personal style.
“We are excited to bring this new vision of CarPlay to customers.” – Apple spokesperson
CarPlay Ultra represents a strategic move by Apple to level the playing field with Google, particularly following Google’s recent announcement of bringing its generative AI Gemini to Android Auto. The automotive industry is experiencing unprecedented change with the rapid integration of new technology. Apple continues to position itself to bring a significant step forward with CarPlay Ultra, transforming how consumers interact with vehicles.