Apple’s CarPlay Ultra, which was announced with the claim of completely transforming the experience in cars, has not found the response it expected in the automotive sector. Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo Cars, Polestar and Renault, which the company listed among its “partners of the future” in its introduction, are not conducting any work on integrating the system into their vehicles.
CarPlay Ultra is not receiving any demand from brands
Apple introduced the new generation CarPlay Ultra last month. The most striking feature of the system is that it can manage not only media controls but also almost all digital interfaces, including the car’s dashboard, climate settings and driver assistance indicators.
Apple introduced this holistic integration as an experience that combines the power of the iPhone with car systems. The user interface is customized in accordance with the car brand’s design language. Aston Martin was the first brand to use CarPlay Ultra. The system has started to be actively offered in new models.
However, other manufacturers are distant from this deep integration. Mercedes-Benz stopped working with Apple last year without making any official statement and decided to focus on its own infotainment system, MBUX.
Audi has similarly suspended its Apple plans, while Renault has reportedly given Apple a clear message: “Don’t try to force your way into our systems.” Volvo Cars and Polestar are also not preparing to integrate CarPlay Ultra.
According to industry sources, the underlying reason for this stance is financial. Manufacturers believe they would lose control of the user interface and a significant portion of their direct customer relationship if they switch to Apple’s system.
This means potential revenues from their own subscription-based infotainment services will be reduced. It is noted that Apple’s interface design and data structure are in direct competition with automakers’ own systems.
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