Mercedes said it has no plans to offer a next-generation version of CarPlay, and the German automaker will not allow Apple's platform to control the screens of all its cars.
The company explains that a comprehensive software architecture is necessary to meet the needs of customers who want a better automotive technology experience.
When Apple announced the next generation of CarPlay at WWDC 2022, it provided a list of automakers that had agreed to the platform, and Mercedes was also on that list, although it's now clear that its plans have been swapped.
The next generation of CarPlay extends not only to the central touchscreen, but also to other displays, such as the instrument display.
Apple says it wants to control basic car functions as well as the speedometer and odometer.
Since then, next-generation CarPlay has not been included in any production models. The company said last year that Porsche and Aston Martin would be among the first companies to adopt the new immersive displays.
It appears that Mercedes is in no rush to follow in the footsteps of its luxury car competitors, allowing Apple to control its customers' car experience.
Mercedes is working with Google, Apple's main competitor, to develop a new navigation function based on Google Maps. The main difference is the involvement of the Mercedes engineering team in this process.
The company is focusing on its own operating system, which is scheduled to be launched next year.
Mercedes still believes in the importance of offering such platforms to its customers and does not want to rule out their use, even if some automakers move away from them.
General Motors made the controversial decision last year to ban Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from its upcoming lineup of electric vehicles, saying the company could offer a richer software experience than you can get on your phone.
“We can't tell the customer that we won't let them use Apple CarPlay if they want to,” Mercedes said. “So, we have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and customers can use both platforms. “You find it's better to switch between certain functions.”
The company confirmed its position that the next generation of Apple CarPlay is very ambitious and goes beyond its limits, while Mercedes confirmed that it will not completely abandon the passenger screen to benefit from any platform.