Apple Launches Next-Gen CarPlay Ultra with Aston Martin, Three Years After Announcement

Apple has officially launched its next-generation CarPlay infotainment software, dubbed ‘CarPlay Ultra,’ three years after its initial announcement. The rollout begins with new Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, marking a significant step forward in in-car technology, albeit approximately half a year behind the initially projected timeline.

According to Apple’s official announcement, CarPlay Ultra offers a comprehensive in-car experience. While still wirelessly powered by an iPhone, it extends its reach beyond the central infotainment screen to encompass the digital dashboard, providing deeper integration with the vehicle’s core systems.

This advanced integration allows CarPlay Ultra to display crucial vehicle data such as speed, fuel mileage, trip information, and water temperature directly within the interface. Furthermore, it grants users control over specific vehicle settings, provided they use an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or newer. Essential safety features like backup cameras retain their priority, seamlessly overriding the CarPlay UI when needed.

Apple has confirmed that some existing, compatible Aston Martin vehicles will receive CarPlay Ultra through a software update available at local dealerships in the coming weeks. Beyond Aston Martin, Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis have also committed to integrating CarPlay Ultra into their future vehicle models.

The launch of CarPlay Ultra positions Apple to better compete with Google, which has been offering embedded versions of Android Auto for years. This week, Google announced the integration of generative AI Gemini to Android Auto, further intensifying the competition in the automotive software space.

Apple has indicated that the delayed rollout was partly due to the extensive customization required to align the software with the unique design aesthetics of each partner automaker. Apple emphasizes its close collaboration with automakers like Aston Martin to create bespoke themes and customizable color palettes, allowing drivers to personalize their CarPlay experience.

CarPlay Ultra represents a significant evolution from the basic version of CarPlay. The original CarPlay has garnered immense popularity, with any automaker’s decision to forgo the software often met with considerable backlash.

Despite the current launch, the actual rollout appears less expansive than initially suggested at the 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference, where Apple showcased logos of 14 automakers expressing enthusiasm for the new CarPlay vision. Notably, Mercedes-Benz has since announced that it will not adopt CarPlay Ultra.