Major Automakers Reject CarPlay Ultra: Why They’re Saying No

Automotive Partners Withdraw from CarPlay Ultra Alliance

Several car manufacturers that were initially listed as partners for CarPlay Ultra during its introduction three years ago have since retracted their support, according to a report by the Financial Times. Last year, Mercedes had already publicly withdrawn, and now Audi, Volvo, Polestar, and Renault—the only French company that had shown interest—are also stepping back. These companies have reportedly found the new system to be too invasive. Renault reportedly told Apple, “Do not try to invade our own systems”. Meanwhile, up until the beginning of this month, Polestar was still communicating about the upcoming arrival of CarPlay Ultra.

Introduction of CarPlay Ultra in North America

CarPlay Ultra was launched in the United States and Canada with Aston Martin last month. This system completely takes over the manufacturer’s interface, including the dashboard and various car controls on the secondary screen. The manufacturer’s interface remains available, but it is only used when the iPhone is not connected.

Current Status of CarPlay Ultra Partnerships

Last month, Apple announced three new partners—Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis—though no specific timelines were provided. From the list of partner manufacturers announced in 2022, Porsche still plans to integrate the system soon. Jaguar and Land Rover have stated that they are “still evaluating the system”. On the other hand, Ford, Nissan, and Infiniti have indicated that they have no new information to share at this time.