In 2022, Apple unveiled an updated version of CarPlay that expanded its phone-mirroring capability beyond the central touchscreen to include supplementary screens such as the gauge cluster. This marked a bold step, indicating Apple’s ambition to influence essential vehicle functions like HVAC, speedometer, and odometer.
Mercedes-Benz doesn’t seem eager to join its luxury car counterparts in allowing Apple to take control of the in-car experience. Instead, Källenius mentioned that the company is collaborating closely with Google, Apple’s main competitor, to develop a new navigation feature based on Google Maps. What sets this apart is that Mercedes’ own engineering team will play a significant role in the development process.
However, despite the announcement, this new iteration of CarPlay has not been implemented in any production models to date. Last year, it was announced that Porsche and Aston Martin would be among the initial adopters of this immersive display.
In a recent interview with Decoder, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius discussed why he’s hesitant to fully integrate Apple’s more immersive version of phone mirroring, Apple CarPlay, across all screens in his company’s vehicles.
Ola Källenius, responding to a query from The Verge’s Nilay Patel, straightforwardly stated that Mercedes-Benz won’t allow Apple CarPlay to dominate all screens within its vehicles. He emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive software structure to cater to customers’ growing demands for an enhanced technological experience in their cars.
