Apple’s Next-Gen CarPlay: What Happened to the Promised Launch in 2024?
Flashback to June 2022, Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference showcased a new generation of CarPlay that promised to revolutionize the automotive industry. Two years later, during the annual conference, another teaser was released with a commitment to launch in some vehicles by the end of 2024.
However, as we enter the first week of 2025, there is no sign of the next-gen CarPlay. Apple seems to have swept the project under the rug, with no acknowledgment of its existence. The official CarPlay website still mentions the new system but with outdated information and images. It appears that the page has not been updated in quite some time.
Efforts to reach out to Apple for clarification have been met with silence. Emails to the media department and individual contacts went unanswered, and phone calls to the company’s media and customer lines resulted in instructions to email the media group. The lack of communication is concerning for the future of this ambitious technology.
The next-gen CarPlay system promised a customizable experience across multiple screens, including digital driver displays with various readouts for speed and vehicle information. It was also set to integrate vehicle control settings seamlessly through the Apple interface, allowing users to adjust settings like temperature and cruise control distance.
Collaboration with automakers is crucial for the success of this system, but some manufacturers, like General Motors, have shown resistance to using third-party systems. While Apple mentioned Porsche and Aston Martin as brands adopting the new CarPlay, both companies remained silent when asked about the progress.
Despite the radio silence from Apple, a recent report by 9to5Mac found references to “CarPlayHybridInstrument” in the code of iOS 18.3 beta 2, released on January 7. This could indicate ongoing work on the multi-screen functionality promised for the new CarPlay or a new feature for the existing system. Until Apple provides an update, the future of the next-gen CarPlay remains uncertain.
As we continue to monitor the situation, we will provide updates as soon as new information becomes available. Stay tuned for the latest developments on Apple’s Next-Gen CarPlay.
