Apple presents the new version of Carplay. A version that is no longer content only to deport certain applications to a large screen. The system becomes the vehicle’s computer and controls all of the electronic components. The first equipped cars will be announced in 2023.
To connect your smartphone to your car, there are two systems: Android Auto at Google and Carplay at Apple. So far, both systems provide the same service: help you stay focused on the road without being totally disconnected. You can enjoy your music. You can call and receive messages (and even respond to them using voice commands). Other applications take advantage of this connectivity, such as Apple Plans or Google Maps.
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But these systems complement the car’s on-board computer. They do not manage the vehicle’s dedicated systems: sensors, gauges, detectors, etc. They also do not manage on-board systems, such as lights, wipers, air conditioning or electric windows. We see this clearly with Tesla cars: the on-board computer manages everything. What if Carplay just became an operating system in its own right?
Carplay becomes a real on-board computer for cars
Today, at the WWDC opening keynote, Apple presented the next version of Carplay. A version which does not only aim to manage your notifications, your calls and your music, but which wants to be the nerve center of the car, as it was leaked at the end of 2021. Apple has indeed unveiled a version of Carplay capable of to manage all of the car’s electronic components, offering deep integration between driver assistance modules, navigation services, multimedia applications and in-car technologies. Widgets will complete the set to provide the weather on the trip, a calendar, or home automation information.
“New generation” Carplay is therefore not just a simple “middleware” to connect your smartphone to your car. It is a truly complete system which offers the driver the possibility of displaying the right information in the right places, thanks to the combination of several screens. You can see a good example at the top of this article: navigation information is displayed in front of the driverbetween the speed gauge and the automatic gearbox mode indicator (with the rev counter).
Of course, this is going to require strong integration with automotive brands. But Apple already has partners, including Renault in France, but also Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, Nissan, Ford, or Jaguar. The first compatible vehicles will be announced in early next year.
