Back in 2014,Apple CarPlaylaunched as a niche feature – the first vehicle to support it was the rare and costly Ferrari FF. It took a few years for support to go mainstream. Thankfully, support is so widespread as of 2024 that it’s almost harder to find a vehicle without it, even when shopping for used models. There are some brand exceptions on that front, which I’ll outline later.
If you want wireless CarPlay specifically, though, that’s not always easy to track down. Most cars come with USB ports, but automakers aren’t always willing to meet CarPlay’s wireless requirements – and if they are, they might reserve support for more expensive trims.
Where is Apple’s next-generation CarPlay?
The next-generation of Apple CarPlay is coming, but it’ll be a while before your Honda dashboard looks like a Rivian or a Tesla.
What are the requirements for wireless CarPlay?
The problem is with automakers
On your end, you’re probably set. To get the modern CarPlay experience, all you need is an iPhone running iOS 13 or later. Make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on – you can do this by opening the Settings app or swiping down over the battery indicator to open Control Center. It’s best to be running thelatest version of iOSthat your iPhone supports.
Wireless CarPlay requires a vehicle with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and automakers are sometimes unwilling to spend on a Wi-Fi radio.
Any barrier is usually with automakers, not your iPhone. Wireless CarPlay requires a vehicle with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and automakers are sometimes unwilling to spend on a Wi-Fi radio for cheaper trims. Used cars may come from a middle-ground period when CarPlay was available, but Wi-Fi was pure luxury. you’re able to potentially get around these limitations with a wireless CarPlay adapter. However, in this guide, we’re focusing on cars that have support built-in.
If you do find a vehicle with wireless CarPlay, you canset it upwith these steps:
The best wireless Apple CarPlay adapters
Apple’s CarPlay car software works great over a wired connection, but with the right adapter, even older cars can go wireless.
What cars have wireless Apple CarPlay?
Do your research before pulling the trigger
For whatever reason, Apple refuses to provide an up-to-date roster of vehicles with wireless CarPlay compatibility. The models below, though, support at least one form of wireless smartphone integration as of February 2024 (according toCars.com), and it’s unlikely for a vehicle to supportAndroid Autowithout also offering CarPlay. That’s especially true in North America, where Apple controls a significant portion of the smartphone market.
Here’s a breakdown by brand:
Alfa Romeo
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Mercedes-Benz
Mitsubishi
Volkswagen
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What about Tesla and Rivian?
Do they have superior software? Maybe they’re just playing hardball
You’ve probably noticed the absence ofTeslaand Rivian in this list, as well as several other prominent EV names. Tesla and Rivian, at least, pride themselves on their custom operating systems, which are a notch above most automakers and tightly integrated with car functions. Running CarPlay alongside that software would be complicated, taking over part of a screen that’s required for basic things like autopilot or adjusting air conditioning. CarPlay would be frequently redundant anyway, given integrated media and navigation apps, the latter already geared towards finding EV chargers on the go.
Tesla and Rivian pride themselves on their custom operating systems.
There’s also a matter of exerting control. While Apple doesn’t charge a licensing fee for CarPlay (in its non-next-gen form), supporting CarPlay does mean adapting design and engineering plans and devoting resources to compatibility with future iPhones and iOS updates. Companies like Rivian may have to do their own software development, but the tradeoff is the ability to evolve in whatever direction they want and at their own pace.
