The third-party infotainment wars are on and Apple has responded to Google’s recent announcement of improvements to Android Auto. The tech company’s in-car infotainment system will be improved to take over more screens.
The company announced the improvements today at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, which runs until Friday, June 10. Like Android Auto, the new system is being optimized to be more functional and to fit more screens better, whether they’re in portrait or landscape mode.
Moreover, though, Apple said that its system would be able to interact with more of the vehicle’s internal systems and will also be able to take over the instrument screens behind the steering wheel that are becoming increasingly common in the automotive world.
Read Also: Google Updates Android Auto With New Look, Optimized For Information
Through these improvements, CarPlay will be capable of handling more than just navigation duties. Users will be able to control their A/C and radio tuning without returning the vehicle’s home screen.
The iPhone will also be able to “communicate with your vehicle’s real-time systems in an on-device, privacy-friendly way,” Apple said in a presentation. That will allow it to show speed, RPM, fuel level, temperature, and more through the instrument screen.
Beyond being adaptable to different screen shapes, CarPlay will also be customizable. That will allow drivers to pick between standard gauges or more modern informational presentation aesthetics.
Apple said that automakers “from around the world are excited to bring this new vision of CarPlay to customers” while showing logos for brands such as Porsche, Jaguar, Acura, Volvo, Nissan, Ford, and more.
The tech company added, though, that this is just a taste of what it expects to be able to bring to market with the next generation of CarPlay and that it will start announcing its availability on vehicles starting late next year.
