I have discussed numerous times GM’s unwise decision to eliminate CarPlay from all its upcoming EV offerings. In contrast, other manufacturers such as Ford have reaffirmed their commitment to CarPlay, striving to offer users as many choices as possible.
During a recent interview, Hyundai executive Olabisi Boyle stated that the company is currently “maintaining Android Auto and CarPlay” … for the time being.
Boyle, who is Hyundai’s senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy, shared these insights with InsideEVs this week. She emphasized that Hyundai’s aim is to “provide consumers with every option” as the market continues to evolve.
She compared the scenario to the changing EV charging framework in the United States. Several automakers, including Hyundai, have revealed plans to shift from CCS to NACS for charging in the U.S., adopting the charging connector originally developed by Tesla. Meanwhile, companies are focused on equipping customers with adapters to allow the use of NACS-compatible chargers alongside CCS.
“At this moment, we’re still supporting Android Auto and CarPlay,” Boyle remarked. “It’s somewhat analogous to EV charging. As we progress, it’s essential to provide people with all the options.”
Another point raised by Boyle was the continuation of internal combustion engine vehicles and hybrids as the industry transitions towards electric vehicles. “Eventually, we’ll be fully electric,” Boyle told InsideEVs. “However, it will take time, and you don’t want your business to falter in the interim. Hence, you need a strategy that can adapt.”
Looking further ahead, Boyle hints that something superior to CarPlay and Android Auto may be on the horizon:
Whether the software used by automakers and phone-mirroring capabilities will coexist in the future is uncertain, but Boyle believes the automotive sector will ultimately converge on some form of standard. Given Hyundai’s upcoming innovations, she suggests there may be alternatives to CarPlay and Android Auto “that people have yet to envision.” That “could represent the future,” she stated.
DMN’s Perspective
Boyle’s remarks offer a positive outlook for Hyundai users in the short term, but they do not inspire confidence regarding the long-term future. The Hyundai executive appears to imply that the company views CarPlay as a temporary solution while they develop their proprietary infotainment technologies.
Conversely, GM abandoned CarPlay with the promise of eventually creating a solution to rival Apple’s phone mirroring system. At least it seems that Hyundai is wise enough not to adopt that strategy.
It’s also notable that Hyundai is not included in Apple’s list of manufacturers committed to supporting next-gen CarPlay.
My favorite CarPlay accessories
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