CarPlay


CarPlay is an Apple standard that enables a car radio or head unit to be a display and a controller for an iOS device. It is available on all iPhone models beginning with iPhone 5 running iOS 7.1 or later.
According to Apple's website, all major vehicle manufacturers are licensing CarPlay. Vehicles without CarPlay can have vehicle audio products from automotive aftermarket suppliers fitted.

Software

Apple's own CarPlay-enabled apps include:
Developers must request permission from Apple to develop CarPlay-enabled apps. Such apps fall into four categories:
To discourage distracted driving, Siri is used extensively, providing voice turn-by-turn navigation guidance and voice-input for text messages. Newscast-style weather and stock results are announced instead of displayed visually. Requests that bring up visual information may be blocked when CarPlay is in use; most native CarPlay Apps deliver audio content with minimal interaction.
CarPlay-enabled apps installed on the device also appear on the CarPlay home screen.

Dashboard

adds Dashboard, an alternative to the app home screen, that presents a split layout of maps, media information, calendar, or Siri Suggestions. It also adds Calendar to the home screen, allowing suggested events to link towards map directions to the event location. A new Settings app enables users to configure certain CarPlay specific settings, such as switching between light and dark modes, adjusting album art in CarPlay’s Now Playing screen, or enabling Do Not Disturb While Driving while in a CarPlay session. Third party maps may also be displayed on the dashboard.

Hardware

While most of the CarPlay software runs on the connected iPhone, the CarPlay interface provides the audio and display connection to the car's infotainment system. CarPlay adapts to various display sizes and control interfaces for each vehicle: touch screen, rotary dials, buttons, steering wheel controls, and hands free microphones.
Aftermarket head units may support CarPlay and/or Android Auto. Aftermarket head units can be purchased from Alpine, Clarion, Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony, and JVC.
A non-official way to enable Apple CarPlay is to install a CarPlay API on a headunit running an Android based operating system.

Wireless CarPlay

iOS 9 adds support for wireless connectivity. The iPhone exchanges network credentials with a supporting CarPlay receiver over Bluetooth, and then establishes a two-way Wi-Fi connection between the devices.
Additionally, there are dongle adapters that enable a wireless connection to the system's USB port.

Manufacturers

Most major automakers offer vehicles with CarPlay. Manufacturers with no CarPlay models include Lada and Tesla Motors.
Honda offers CarPlay on the Gold Wing, and will in 2020 offer it on the Africa Twin.

History

Predecessor

The concept of CarPlay was based on the little-known Apple iOS 4 feature called "iPod Out" that was produced through several years of joint development by Apple and the BMW Group's Technology Office USA. iPod Out enabled vehicles with the necessary infrastructure to "host" the analog video and audio from a supporting iOS device while receiving inputs, such as button presses and knob rotations, from a car's infotainment system, to drive the "hosted" user interface in the vehicle's built-in display. It was announced during WWDC in 2010 and first shipped in BMW Group vehicles in early 2011. The BMW and Mini option was called "PlugIn" and paved the way for the first cross-OEM platforms, introducing the concept of requiring a car-specific interface for apps.

Development

CarPlay's codename was Stark. Apple's Eddy Cue announced it as iOS in the Car at the 2013 WWDC. In January 2014 it was reported that Apple's hardware-oriented corporate culture had led to release delays. CarPlay was launched as "CarPlay" at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014 with Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo among the first car manufacturers.

Adoption

June 2013: BMW officials announced that their cars would not support CarPlay; they later changed their minds.
November 2013: Siri Eyes Free mode was offered as a dealer-installed accessory in the US to some Honda Accord and Acura RDX & ILX models. In December, Honda offered additional integration, featuring new HondaLink services, on some US and Canada models of the Civic and the Fit.
September 2014: A Ferrari FF was the first car with a full version of CarPlay.
November 2014: Hyundai announced the Sonata sedan will be available with CarPlay by the end of the first quarter of 2015.
December 2015: Volvo implemented CarPlay in the 2016 XC90.
January 2016: Apple released a list detailing the car models which support CarPlay.
April 2017: The new generation Scania range became the first heavy duty truck in Europe to support CarPlay.
July 2017: The new Volvo VNL became the first heavy duty truck in the United States to support CarPlay.
October 2017: The 2018 Honda Gold Wing became the first motorcycle to support CarPlay.
January 2018: The 2019 Toyota Avalon became the first Toyota model with Apple CarPlay.
July 2018: Mazda added CarPlay support to vehicles newer than 2013 and equipped with the MZD-Connect system.
August 2018: Harley-Davidson CarPlay support was added to 2019 Touring models equipped with Boom! Box GTS radio.
December 2019: BMW no longer requires a subscription to use CarPlay.

Competition

The Open Automotive Alliance's Android Auto is a similar implementation used for Android devices.
Some vehicle manufacturers have their own systems for syncing the car with smartphones, for example: BMW ConnectedDrive, Hyundai Blue Link, iLane, MyFord Touch, Ford SYNC, OnStar, and Toyota Entune.
General Motors has released an API to allow the development of apps that interact with vehicle software systems.
MirrorLink is a standard for car-smartphone connectivity, currently implemented in vehicles by Honda, Volkswagen, SEAT, Buick, Skoda, Mercedes-Benz, Citroën, and Smart with phones by multiple manufacturers including Apple, HTC, Sony, and Samsung.