It was about time! The arrival of the new generation of CarPlay is becoming more and more clear, with new clues discovered in a European database. This major evolution of Apple’s automotive interface, initially announced in June 2022, could finally see the light of day in the coming weeks, as the year 2024 draws to a close.
New assets filed by Apple in Europe
Apple recently filed several designs related to the next generation of CarPlay with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). These files, submitted on November 8 and published on November 15, 2024, notably show specific interfaces for Audi, one of the announced partner manufacturers. Although these visuals do not reveal radically new elements compared to the concepts already presented by Apple, they confirm the concrete progress of the project.
Cupertino is maintaining its promise of a 2024 launch, but time is starting to run out. If Aston Martin and Porsche have already presented their designs integrating the new CarPlay in December 2023, no equipped vehicle is yet available on the market. The presence of Audi in these new assets could suggest that the German manufacturer will be among the first to offer this technology.
Extensive features for an enriched experience
The new generation of CarPlay promises much deeper integration than the current version. Instead of being limited to the central screen, the system will be able to extend to all screens in the vehicle, including the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. This development will allow essential information such as speed, fuel level, temperature and other vehicle data to be displayed directly in the Apple interface.
These developments are part of Apple’s broader strategy in the automotive sector, as rumors about the Apple Car have gradually faded in favor of a more software-based approach. Early signs had already been spotted in the iOS 18.2 beta, with the appearance of new icons intended for this future version of CarPlay, confirming the deep integration of the system in the next iOS.
