Apple’s CarPlay Ultra Faces Resistance from Top Automakers

Apple’s newest upgrade to its in-vehicle infotainment system, CarPlay Ultra, is sparking resistance from several major global car manufacturers who are reluctant to hand over the cockpit to the iPhone maker.

According to Financial Times, despite Apple’s push to integrate deeper into dashboard systems with the new version of CarPlay, some top auto brands are pulling back. Luxury automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo Cars, Polestar, and Renault have confirmed they have no current plans to adopt CarPlay Ultra.

The upgraded software, revealed at Apple’s developer conference earlier this year, goes far beyond music and navigation. CarPlay Ultra links directly to a vehicle’s vital controls, allowing drivers to manage air conditioning, radio settings, fuel data, and speed displays, all through Apple’s interface.

While this promises a more seamless experience for iPhone users, automakers are concerned about ceding too much control of the in-car environment to Apple.

The pushback highlights growing tensions between automakers and Silicon Valley firms vying for dominance inside the car. Some companies view Apple’s ambitions as overstepping. A Renault executive reportedly told Apple not to “invade” their proprietary systems. The French automaker is instead focused on building software-centric vehicles in partnership with Google and Qualcomm.

Meanwhile, Aston Martin recently became the first to implement CarPlay Ultra, but emphasized that it retained full design control and limited data sharing. Sources close to the company stated that user data stays within Aston Martin’s own ecosystem.

Apple claims that nearly 98% of new U.S. vehicles offer the standard version of CarPlay. According to the company, American drivers use the interface more than 600 million times a day. A 2023 McKinsey survey also revealed that nearly half of car buyers wouldn’t purchase a vehicle without CarPlay or Android Auto support, and 85% preferred it over native car systems.

Companies like BMW and Audi continue to support standard CarPlay but are hesitant to adopt the full CarPlay Ultra experience. BMW plans to integrate standard CarPlay into its next-gen design, while Audi aims to offer its own customized digital platform.