Apple Makes CarPlay 2 Look Like a Flop

It was the beginning of an intriguing CarPlay refresh that somehow propelled Apple to pole position in the expansion planned by technology companies to the automotive space.

At that time, everything seemed to suggest it wouldn't take long before Apple became an important name in the car world. It was working on an electric vehicle, CarPlay was getting a new generation, and Apple Maps was in the middle of a major refresh that provided users with in-house maps and impressive details, like sidewalks, crosswalks, 3D models, and improved navigation.

What a difference two years make, even for a company the size of Apple.

The first vehicle announcements landed literally in the last days of 2023. Porsche and Aston Martin confirmed they would be the first carmakers to adopt CarPlay 2.0, promising an exciting experience behind the wheels of their 2024 models.

Both said their first cars running CarPlay 2 would go live in 2024, so everybody expected Apple to make a big deal out of its CarPlay upgrade this year. First, it was the spring event, where Apple typically announces more subtle product refreshes. No CarPlay news in the spring, though. Then, the world moved its attention to the iPhone event party typically being held in September. No CarPlay news this time either.

The next stop was an October event. Apple sometimes holds a second fall event, typically in October, where it unveils non-iPhone product upgrades. Devices like the MacBook and the iPad get upgrades at this second fall event, so many people expected the venue to also witness more CarPlay 2 announcements.

That's not going to happen. Apple has just unveiled a new iPad mini, effectively throwing rumors related to an October event into the trash.

CarPlay 2 is already looking late to the party, and considering the progress it has made since the WWDC 2022 announcement happened at such a slow pace, Apple's secrecy around the project makes it feel like a flop.

Apple has always tried to keep information about its upcoming projects away from our eyes and ears, but this CIA-inspired strategy no longer makes sense for a project that's obviously losing traction without even being here.

CarPlay 2 was supposed to provide Apple with a competitor for Android Automotive. Compared to the second-generation CarPlay, which hasn't even launched, and it is becoming more obvious that 2024 won't bring big news in this direction, AAOS is already on the market, powering the infotainment capabilities in several popular car models.

Vehicles from Volvo, Polestar, General Motors, Renault, Honda, and Nissan have already adopted Android Automotive. Some of these companies were also expected to adopt CarPlay 2, though the long development time could convince them to go all-in on Google's automotive platform.

So, what's happening with CarPlay 2, and why is it taking so long to launch?

The last time I heard about the new-generation CarPlay, the tidbits related to Apple's work with carmakers. The company was involved in several collaborations—though I couldn't obtain any names—to ensure CarPlay felt at home in the upcoming models adopting it. Apple was working directly with carmakers to provide full compatibility and support.

CarPlay 2 will allow car manufacturers to customize the look and feel of the infotainment experience specifically to retain their brand identity. However, this work is taking more time than expected, and I wouldn't be surprised to discover that the collaboration isn't making faster progress due to Apple's strict requirements.

Compared to Android Automotive, CarPlay 2 was still supposed to require an iPhone to power the system. However, only part of the experience would be powered by the smartphone, as the vehicle would still handle essential resources, such as the data displayed on the instrument cluster.

Carmakers will be given the freedom to customize the instrument cluster with the data they want to display, eventually being allowed to tweak the design and the interface with elements specific to each brand. It's likely that this part takes more time to get right, especially because car manufacturers don't have the software development know-how, and Apple's engineers must step in to aid with the CarPlay 2 compatibility work.

The iPhone will power the experience on the non-critical screens, such as the infotainment unit and the passenger screens, if available. It'll hold the necessary resources to run applications like navigation and music streaming, while the passenger screen would get access to more functions, including video support and possibly gaming integration.

Apple's change of strategy kicked in when the company abandoned the development of the Apple Car. Analysts expected the company to switch focus to software and services, but neither CarPlay nor Apple Maps received more attention, with both products getting little to no improvements lately.

Is CarPlay 2 dead on arrival? Let me know what you think in the comment box below.