Apple CarPlay should have the company’s full focus after canceling the electric car project

Initially, the expectation was to create a software experience embedded in the vehicle, just like Android Automotive. This tool would allow you to control car mechanisms — such as the radio and air conditioning — and use cell phone services easily and safely, covering different screens and the vehicle’s instrument panel.

This would be a big change from the current CarPlay interface, which is limited to allowing drivers to only operate Apple services when connecting their iPhone.

Unfortunately, according to the analyst’s information, the CarPlay should continue to depend of iPhoneHowever, the new generation of software is more powerful and promises to increase the driver’s capabilities while driving.

The adoption of new software by automotive manufacturers occurs very slowly. Even after almost two years since its introduction, the only model confirmed to support the new CarPlay is the Aston Martin DB12.

This delay can be attributed to Apple’s strategy of working with automakers to offer personalized CarPlay experiences, but the expectation is that the software team will pay more attention to the project and, therefore, accelerate the pace of implementation. Another issue to be resolved is the possibility of transforming the service into something profitable.

Gurman says that, in principle, Apple could charge automakers to support CarPlay. “Both Apple and automakers know there are die-hards who won’t consider buying a vehicle if it doesn’t offer the feature,” the analyst said.

There is also the possibility of maintaining the old software as a free service, and then selling the new generation as an updated and more advantageous version. “If Apple doesn’t quickly get more automakers to adopt the new CarPlay, it will certainly lose ground to Android,” comments Gurman.

Apple has not confirmed a comprehensive list of manufacturers that will adopt the new generation of CarPlay, however, the service needs to serve different price segments so that it can become a threat to Android Automotive, which already supports advanced information and in-vehicle entertainment.