 |
| Apple's success in CarPlay paved the way for automotive ambitions |
Apple CarPlay was introduced in 2014 and integrated into the iPhone and dashboard. He's been everywhere since then.
In the early 2010s, automakers sought to develop innovative uses for vehicle dashboards other than CD players and small LED screens.
By working with companies like Microsoft, automakers are starting to create maps, music, and support services.
They joined big associations to set industry standards for connecting smartphones with cars, and then Apple changed everything.
Apple said last year that more than 80% of new cars sold worldwide are compatible with CarPlay.
CarPlay can drive nearly 600 new models, including cars from Volkswagen, BMW and Chrysler.
For many drivers and car buyers, CarPlay is also an important feature.
In the United States, 23% of new car buyers said they need CarPlay.
56% said they would be interested in CarPlay when purchasing a new vehicle.
Also, Apple could fit between the customer and the automaker and make sure that the user interface meets the needs of every iPhone user while driving.
This is a victory for one of the most successful companies in the world.
CarPlay does not bring the company any direct sales or profit, but it does guarantee the loyalty of iPhone users. If Apple is to grow, it will also provide Apple an opportunity to enter the automotive industry.
Smartphone Power Source:
Most cars use an infotainment operating system based on Linux, QNX or Android Automotive to operate the integrated display in the car's dashboard.
Infotainment systems usually include software, and car manufacturers sell wireless subscriptions and other upgrades.
CarPlay runs on these infotainment operating systems and enables iPhone owners to access their most important apps while driving.
With CarPlay, users can launch a map, a music app, or select a text message to send.
These operations are done on the phone itself, just like using a car screen as an external phone screen.
When users have both CarPlay and an integrated system, they usually use CarPlay.
Over the years, Apple has also expanded CarPlay to make it more valuable to iPhone owners.
When CarPlay first appeared, it needed a cable to connect a phone to a car. Apple has supported Bluetooth wireless connections since 2015.
Although it took new cars a few years to support this feature, it is now in widespread use.
Last summer, Apple and BMW announced that users could use an iPhone to open the door and even start the engine.
IPhone manufacturers share a number of criteria to make this feature known to more car manufacturers.
When automakers learned that smartphones' computing and software capabilities were improving much faster than built-in infotainment systems, they tried to adapt them.
The Automotive Communications Association, which includes most of the major car manufacturers and suppliers, has developed Mirrorlink, an open standard for connecting smartphones to vehicle systems.
Mirrorlink was launched in 2011 but soon gets ignored by Apple and Google. As the biggest supporter of the standard, Samsung discontinued Mirrorlink support in its phones last year.
No other major Android brand supports this yet, and the Etihad website only lists a few legacy devices as supported devices.
A big step forward in self-driving cars:
Apple's success in CarPlay explains the auto industry's interest in rumors that it is considering building its own cars.
If Apple hits the dashboard, the company will likely invest it in a competitive car.
According to the media, Apple has been looking at at least one plan for an autonomous electric vehicle since 2014.
Hyundai Motor said in an official statement earlier this year: It is in talks with Apple about the automaker before returning the car.
Apple's final plans remain unclear, and it can still decide to sell an autonomous driving system to the automakers, rather than designing its own car.
But if Apple does enter the automotive world, that requires a fundamentally different strategy from CarPlay.
Mainly, CarPlay aims to make iPhone more attractive.
It also offers other benefits to Apple, such as making Apple Music subscriptions more valuable.
People may want to play music in their cars, but they need an easy way to control it while driving.
But CarPlay on its own is not a winner. It's currently free on most new cars, from basic models to premium SUVs.
BMW used to charge users a monthly fee to access CarPlay, but it discontinued in 2019 after customers complained.
And Apple doesn't charge carmakers for using CarPlay because it's not a licensed business.
And Apple can use CarPlay as a foothold to support more of its ambitions, as it collects the data needed to run CarPlay.
Although this data is anonymous to ensure user privacy, it gives the company a lot of initial information about what people are doing with their cars.
But CarPlay cannot operate the autonomous car, which requires different chips and specialized devices eligible for use in the car.
And if Apple plans to sell a standalone steering system to self-driving car makers, it takes a different look from CarPlay.