Apple’s CarPlay system will finally be available in dozens of vehicles in 2015, after a very slow rollout that began last year.Speaking today at Apple’s “Spring Forward” media event, CEO Tim Cook claimed the company’s infotainment system will be featured in at least 40 new car models this year, according to an AppleInsider report.
Perhaps more importantly, the executive boasted that Apple has secured commitments from “every major” automaker to eventually offer CarPlay in future models. The official website confirms a long list of automaker partners, including the top global brands from the US, Europe, Japan and South Korea.
The company has not confirmed which models are next in line for CarPlay integration, though announcements have been made by General Motors, Volkswagen and Volvo, among others.
Both CarPlay and Google’s rival system, known as Android Auto, serve as extensions of their respective smartphone platforms, enabling drivers to take advantage of mobile features via the vehicle’s infotainment display or through voice commands.
Reports suggest both Apple and Google are attempting to dive deeper into vehicle technology, potentially developing software platforms that can manage electric drive systems or digital gauge clusters, however both companies so far have only revealed their respective skin-deep infotainment features.