There are two systems for connecting your smartphone to your car: Android Auto by Google and Carplay by Apple. So far, both systems provide the same service: Helps you focus on the road without being completely disconnected. You can enjoy your music. You can call and receive messages (and even reply using voice commands). Other apps like Apple Plans or Google Maps take advantage of this link.
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However, these systems complement the car’s on-board computer. They do not manage the vehicle’s specific systems: sensors, indicators, detectors, etc. They also do not manage onboard systems such as lights, wipers, air conditioning or power windows. We see this clearly in Tesla cars: the on-board computer manages everything. What if Carplay became an operating system in its own right?
Carplay becomes a real on-board computer for cars
Today, at the WWDC keynote, Apple presented the next version of Carplay. A version that not only aims to manage your notifications, calls and music, but wants to be the nerve center of the car since it was leaked at the end of 2021. Apple has indeed introduced a version of Carplay with the following features. manage all electronic components of the car, deep integration among driver assistance modules, navigation services, multimedia applications and in-car technologies. Widgets will complement the set to provide the weather on the trip, a calendar or home automation information.
The “next generation” Carplay is therefore not simply “middleware” for connecting your smartphone to your car. It is a truly complete system that allows the driver to display the right information in the right places, thanks to the combination of several screens. You can see a good example at the beginning of this article: navigation information is displayed in front of the driverbetween the speedometer and the automatic gearbox mode indicator (with coul meter).
Of course, this will require strong integration with automotive brands. But Apple already has partners including Renault in France, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, Nissan, Ford or Jaguar. The first compatible vehicles will be announced early next year.
