Automakers give up voluntarily and make room

I could already imagine something like this last year. Now Apple has actually revealed a similar master plan. The intention is not to take over the automotive industry with their own e-car; instead, the iPhone will initially be the key to future dominance. More on that now in the GIGA weekend column.

Brief review: In January last year, I put my thoughts on Apple’s e-car on virtual paper and published my thoughts here. In my opinion, Apple was and is better advised not to work hell-bent on its own set of wheels, but rather on a universal solution for controlling and operating future cars in general.

Hey, my idea: Apple CarPlay is now becoming the universal standard

I had in mind an extended CarPlay, Apple’s previous interface between the iPhone and the automobile. In short: Apple should work to become the “Windows of the automotive industry”. and to sell his technology to the car manufacturers. As a result, there is a more or less equally good user experience, regardless of whether you drive a Mercedes or a VW.

You can imagine my surprise when Apple presented something similar as part of iOS 16 at WWDC 2022. In the future, the new CarPlay for the iPhone will be able to access all displays in a modern car, show widgets and, last but not least, intervene in the controls. Among other things, vehicle functions such as radio and climate control can then be operated directly via CarPlay. You can think of the new CarPlay as an alternative user interface for the car, one that you always have at hand with your iPhone in your pocket. A uniform interface that you can simply take with you and use in your own car or, for example, in a rental car in the future – brilliant.

Apple is introducing the new CarPlay and will completely take over the cockpit in the future:

While the new CarPlay is optional for automakers, it is Ultimately, Apple takes over the man-machine interface at this point between automobile and user. Should Apple’s e-car come later, quite a few people should already be familiar with Apple’s user interface.

Who is actually doing this voluntarily?

But the best is: The car manufacturers are voluntarily taking part and are practically clearing the field, making room for Apple. There are already numerous assurances from many brands, and they currently want to get involved:

• land rover
• Mercedes
• Porsche
• Nissan, Infinit
• ford
• Lincoln
• Audi
• jaguar
• Acura, Honda
• Volvo, Polestar
• Renault

The first new vehicles are to be announced at the end of 2023. Certainly still a thing of the future, but I can already see the full implications of the decision. Apple uses CarPlay as a Trojan horse and thus secures its place in the automotive industry in the future. Competitor Google will certainly try to get a foot in the door, but at the moment Apple probably has the better chances and Android Auto is at a disadvantage – in my personal opinion.

From extended CarPlay to real Apple Car:

I have to say: chapeau! Oh yes, dear creators at Apple, you should be happy to read more ideas from this column and implement them in the future. I don’t mind and I’m happy to share my thoughts with you.