The importance of smartphone integration in vehicles has become a major factor for many car buyers when considering a new purchase. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have become almost essential features for modern consumers, with studies showing that a vast majority of buyers won’t even consider a new vehicle that doesn’t include these capabilities. However, some automakers are still hesitant to make smartphone mirroring standard across all their models.
General Motors recently made headlines by completely removing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from its EV lineup, a decision that disappointed many consumers. Similarly, Rivian and Tesla have never offered these features in their vehicles. Now, BMW is joining the conversation by questioning the necessity of CarPlay in their vehicles.
Stephan Durach, BMW’s Senior Vice President of UI/UX Development, revealed that internal data suggests that Apple CarPlay’s native navigation system isn’t as popular among BMW drivers as commonly believed. In an interview with BMW Blog, Durach stated that the data contradicts the “myth” that CarPlay’s navigation feature is a dominant choice among drivers. According to the data collected from over 10 million vehicles, BMW drivers tend to prefer the automaker’s built-in navigation system over Apple Maps via CarPlay. While many users keep CarPlay enabled, they often switch to BMW’s iDrive system for navigation. However, it remains unclear how many drivers opt for Google Maps or Waze through CarPlay instead of BMW’s navigation system.
With the launch of the iX3 and the introduction of BMW’s new iDrive X infotainment system featuring Panoramic Drive, BMW seems to be moving away from supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto altogether. In fact, the company confirmed that it currently has no plans to support Apple CarPlay Ultra, aligning itself with other brands like Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, and Volvo. Additionally, BMW stated that its new Panoramic Display will not support third-party navigation apps such as Google Maps or Waze.
For consumers who still desire Apple integration, Apple recently released an update to CarPlay with iOS 26. This latest version includes new features like widgets, live activities, and enhanced text message response options.
In conclusion, BMW’s decision to question the necessity of CarPlay in their vehicles reflects a shifting landscape in the automotive industry. As technology continues to evolve, automakers are reevaluating the role of smartphone integration in their vehicles and making decisions based on consumer preferences and internal data. It will be interesting to see how this trend develops in the future and how it impacts the overall driving experience for consumers.
