Mercedes-Benz will not let Apple CarPlay take over all its screens

Mercedes-Benz has no plans to implement Apple’s next-generation immersive model of CarPlay, the German automaker’s CEO has stated. within the episode Decoder.

“The quick reply is not any,” stated Ola Källenius. EdgeNilay Patel in response to a query about whether or not Mercedes-Benz will enable Apple CarPlay to regulate all of the screens inside its vehicles. As a substitute, he states the necessity for a “holistic software program structure” to fulfill the wants of consumers who’re more and more in search of the perfect know-how expertise from their autos.

Apple introduced its subsequent technology model of CarPlay, which is able to see the cellphone mirroring characteristic increase past the central touchscreen to incorporate extra screens just like the dashboard again in 2022. This was a daring transfer, as Apple signaled its need to regulate important car features akin to HVAC, in addition to the speedometer and odometer. However since then, the brand new CarPlay has not appeared on any manufacturing mannequin. Final yr, it stated that Porsche and Aston Martin will likely be one of many first corporations to undertake the brand new immersive show.

However Mercedes seems to be in no hurry to observe its luxurious automobile friends, permitting Apple to dominate the in-car expertise for its clients. As a substitute, Källenius stated the corporate is working carefully with Apple’s primary rival, Google, to develop a brand new navigation characteristic primarily based on Google Maps. The important thing distinction is that Mercedes’ personal engineering staff will likely be actively concerned on this course of.

“I strongly consider that complete customer support is finest supplied to us, and we’ll serve you,” he stated in the course of the interview.

However Källenius stated he nonetheless sees worth in providing cellphone mirroring companies to his clients and has no plans to rule out utilizing them, regardless of some within the auto trade turning towards them. Final yr Normal Motors made controversial transfer to ban Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its upcoming line of electrical autos, arguing that the corporate can present extra complete software program than what exists on somebody’s cellphone.

“We’re not fundamentalists to say that for some cause we’re not going to permit clients to make use of Apple CarPlay in the event that they select,” Kallenius stated. “So we now have Apple CarPlay. We’ve Android Auto. If for some options you are feeling extra snug and can swap forwards and backwards, be my visitor. You’ll be able to have it too.”

On the finish of the reply, he reiterated his place that the subsequent technology of Apple CarPlay is a bridge too far for Mercedes. “To present all the cockpit head unit—in our case, the passenger display—and all the pieces else to another person, the reply is not any.”