Apple’s Fancy New CarPlay Will Only Work Wirelessly

Apple has been teasing its next-generation CarPlay for two years now, aiming to revolutionize the in-car experience by unifying interfaces across every screen in your vehicle, including the instrument cluster. However, adoption has been slow, with only Aston Martin and Porsche committing to future integration, and even then, without specific launch dates.

Industry Skepticism and Apple's Response

The tepid reception from automakers is palpable. Many car industry leaders express reluctance to let Apple control critical aspects of the car’s interface. “We have Apple CarPlay,” Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius said in April. “But to give up the whole cockpit head unit — in our case, a passenger screen and everything — to somebody else? The answer is no.”

Apple seems to have taken this skepticism to heart, as evidenced by two detailed WWDC 2024 videos that outline the architecture and design of next-gen CarPlay. These presentations reveal that automakers will retain significant control over the system's appearance and functionality. Rather than Apple taking over the entire interface, the new CarPlay acts more like a design toolkit for automakers.

Next-Gen CarPlay Architecture

Currently, CarPlay functions as a secondary display for your iPhone, sending a video stream to your car's screen. This simplicity allows for inexpensive wireless CarPlay dongles. However, integrating critical vehicle data like speedometers and climate controls necessitates a more robust connection and real-time data exchange between the car and the phone.

Next-gen CarPlay introduces a layered approach:

1. Overlay UI: This includes elements like turn signals and odometers, fully controlled by the car's system and styled by the automaker.

2. Local UI: This layer handles real-time driving information such as speedometers and tachometers, offering customizable styles but standardized by Apple’s San Francisco font.

3. Remote UI: The familiar CarPlay interface for maps, music, and trip info, now able to run on any screen in the car.

4. Punch-Through UI: This allows automakers to integrate their native interfaces for functions like backup cameras and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), directly into CarPlay.

Wireless Only: Stability and Performance Concerns

One significant change with next-gen CarPlay is that it will only support wireless connections. “The stability and performance of the wireless connection are essential,” Apple’s Tanya Kancheva emphasized, recognizing that CarPlay connectivity issues are a common complaint among users.

Automaker Customization and Control

Apple’s approach with the punch-through UI and customizable elements gives automakers the flexibility to maintain their design language and functionality. For instance, automakers can control the appearance of HVAC controls and even use animations that match the car’s interior design.

Challenges and Potential Adoption

Despite these flexible design features, next-gen CarPlay faces challenges. Automakers have invested heavily in their native systems, often integrating sophisticated graphics and Google services. Allowing these systems to punch through into CarPlay might make integration more appealing but could also result in a fragmented user experience.

The Road Ahead

So far, no one has seen more than concept renders of next-gen CarPlay in action. The real test will come when Porsche and Aston Martin release their implementations. If successful, this could encourage broader adoption among other manufacturers.