Apple CarPlay 2023 Updates are on the horizon. But what will they look like? Here’s a glimpse at some of the new features to expect.
Last year at the Worldwide Developers Conference (or WWDC 2022 in Apple geek speak), American tech giant Apple unveiled a preview of the ‘next generation of CarPlay’. Apple CarPlay – and the rivalling Android Auto system – has revolutionized the world of in-car infotainment over the past half a decade or so, bringing music, navigation and a variety of other apps under one smartphone-connected roof. So, how will the new version take things a step further? Well, since it’s yet to roll out, we figured we’d give you a run-down of what to expect when it launches in the not-so-distant future.
Full Car OS
In the past, Apple CarPlay has been relegated to one small section of your car’s digital display – usually as part of the stereo/head unit structure. However, the latest iteration looks set to be rather more expansive, and will also infiltrate stuff like your speedometer! Yep, the plans are for the new CarPlay to be a ‘full car OS, or operating system’, which includes digital displays beyond mere Spotify and Google Maps. If you’ve got a very modern car with a full digital dash, the gauges and other functions such as climate control will all become part of CarPlay; the Apple system essentially overriding (or re-skinning, at least) the manufacturer’s default displays.
If you love Apple design, this will surely excite. However, if you’re worried that cars are becoming increasingly homogenized white goods, this is another potential step in that soulless direction…
SharePlay
SharePlay is a function which first debuted as part of the iOS15 update, and essentially is an add-on to the FaceTime video calling app. This means that as well as well as video-calling people through your car’s dashboard, you’ll also be able to view synchronized shared media or listen to shared audio with them, all from the driver’s seat.
Our friends over at Stuff reckon that this will only work with the wireless version of Apple CarPlay, and we can think of some other potential caveats too. Presumably there will be obvious safety limitations around this media sharing functionality. I mean, it’d be a bit dumb to allow people to get into accidents because their mate is streaming Apple TV to their car’s dashboard, right? We’d expect those sort of things to be locked away behind a wall of software until you’re parked up…
When will the Apple CarPlay Update arrive?
Well, to be honest, those in the know are a little surprised that it hasn’t rolled out already, given its public unveiling roughly this time last year. However, we’re personally less surprised.
The concept of introducing an Apple interface that overrides manufacturers’ own displays feels like a task that will have its fair share of sticking points. After all, it represents a huge change in car cabin expectations and tech, and the automotive industry can be a little stubborn sometimes. Of course, aftermarket gauges have been a thing in tuning circles for decades, but this new CarPlay ‘full OS’ will be far greater widespread, and given its technicality, likely to require some direct teamwork with software engineers at marques all around the world. This, after all, will effectively be a variation on the car’s stock package, rather than some niche analog install kit ordered from demon tweeks.
With that in mind, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when the new Apple CarPlay update will arrive, but there’s still reason to be hopeful of a 2023 launch if this is something that you’d like to have. Although CarPlay updates were largely omitted from the talking points at this year’s WWDC event, Apple has a history of launching further products at a secondary event of theirs in September. So, maybe we’ll hear more about it then.
Which cars will be compatible with the 2023 Apple CarPlay update?
At the 2022 launch event, Apple gleefully reeled off the names of several car marques which the 2023 Apple CarPlay update will be compatible with. It should also go without saying that this only applies to models that have a fully-integrated digital dash. Hate to break it to you, but you’re not gonna get SharePlay in your EK-generation Civic…
List of car brands (grouped by association) with CarPlay update-compatible dashboard tech:
- Audi / Porsche
- Ford / Lincoln
- Honda / Acura
- Jaguar / Land Rover
- Mercedes-Benz
- Nissan / Infiniti
- Polestar / Volvo
Apple expects more brands to join that roster, but one which won’t come along is Tesla. They have their own dashboard operating system that they have plenty of pride in. General Motors, meanwhile, favors a Google-based system instead.
Perhaps more notably, BMW isn’t on that list either. As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, the new class of BMW EVs set to arrive as the decade rolls on will focus heavily on redefining interior displays. Clearly, BMW has chosen to embrace their own ideas rather than play it safe with Apple. And frankly, for that individuality, we commend them. They’ve already launched an in-car games console as a result!
It does raise an interesting question though: just how happy are these car brands with allowing Apple to overthrow their own bespoke interfaces? If a few head honchos have changes of heart, we could easily see that list above reduce in size, rather than extend…
