Since its launch in 2014, CarPlay has been one of the most popular ways to integrate iPhone into car entertainment system. The platform allowed us to make phone calls, send text messages, navigate with Maps, play music and podcasts, among other functions.
But what else does CarPlay have planned for 2023? There is a secret weapon to conquer automotive brands. The secret is a way of speaking, as it was showcased last WWDC22, but it seems like we’ve completely forgotten about it. The new version of CarPlay has been designed to offer further integration with vehicle functions, along with new customization options and more screens. This is enough to convince many manufacturers, especially European ones, who have not yet found their strong point in vehicle software.
An industry in need of software help
The first big feature of the CarPlay update is the ability to appear on all screens in a vehicle, including the infotainment system, the instrument cluster and any additional displays. This will give us a more consistent and intuitive experience, as important information will be available everywhere we look. In addition, the platform will adapt to each car model to provide a personalized experience. Personalized, also because we will be the ones who decide what information – a bit like the complications of the Apple Watch – we will see in each place.
The CarPlay system will integrate with the vehicle’s instrument cluster. This way we will have access to the most important information about the vehicle, such as speed, fuel consumption, engine temperature and other key indicators. We’ll be able to choose from different models and also brand-specific models
In addition, the new version of CarPlay will have shortcuts to vehicle climate controls, customizable widgets with useful information such as weather and fuel economy. Added to this is a new radio application to control the FM radio of the vehicle without having to use the physical buttons on the control panel.
A more personalized experience
These should be very attractive for car manufacturers, since they will allow them to offer their customers a more personalized and attractive user experience inside their vehicles. To the extent that technology and software are becoming key components of the modern automobile
With the new version of CarPlay, Apple offers car manufacturers, especially European ones – which are not one step ahead of American brands – the possibility of easily integrate the latest software technologies into your vehicles, without having to develop your own custom solutions from scratch. A way to conquer the European market which, for various reasons, is a little behind in terms of compatibility and software embedded in vehicles.
The 2023 CarPlay update promises to be a huge improvement for the platform. New vehicle integration, customization and widget features will make the driving experience more intuitive and useful for drivers. If this convinces more brands, especially those on the old continent, to jump on the software bandwagon, sooner or later we should see more and more vehicles compatible with the new CarPlay.
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