With the statements of Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius, the company’s future with Apple has become clear. Källenius announced whether Mercedes-Benz will support the next generation of CarPlay.

Mercedes-Benz will use its own system instead of next-generation CarPlay

Unlike many car brands, Mercedes-Benz will not support the next generation of Apple CarPlay. Instead, the company is focused on its own Mercedes-Benz operating system, which is scheduled for release next year.

In his response, Källenius said that Mercedes-Benz is focusing on its own operating system, the Mercedes-Benz operating system, which is the central nervous system of the car. He emphasized that this operating system is a holistic software architecture that includes everything from infotainment, automation, exterior and interior functions of the car to the driver system and battery management.

Källenius also revealed that Mercedes-Benz is working with Google to develop “the next generation of how a car’s map should be integrated into the driving assistance system”.

However, although Mercedes-Benz has no plans to support the next generation of CarPlay, Källenius said the company will not abandon the current classic CarPlay implementation. Unlike GM, Mercedes-Benz will continue to allow existing customers to use Apple CarPlay, he said.

“We don’t think, ‘If a customer wants to use Apple CarPlay, we won’t let them,’” Källenius said. So we have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you prefer that for some functions, you can switch between them.”

When Apple announced the next generation of CarPlay at WWDC 2022, it presented a list of automakers that would allegedly adopt the feature. Mercedes-Benz was on that list, but now it’s clear their plans have changed. Aston Martin and Porsche have confirmed that they will support the next generation of CarPlay. Other automakers have yet to make a statement.

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