Porsche confirms future models will support Apple CarPlay Ultra

Porsche chief designer Michael Mauer recently made it clear in an interview with the Financial Times that the brand's future models will continue to be equipped with Apple's CarPlay Ultra system, but no specific timetable or technical details were announced. This commitment echoes the design concept that Porsche showed as early as December 2023. However, since Apple first officially announced the technology in 2022, the cooperation between the two parties has been slow and has not yet been implemented. ‌At the same time, CarPlay Ultra is currently limited to the luxury model Aston Martin in the US and Canadian markets, highlighting its high-end positioning and popularization bottleneck. ‌It is worth noting that Apple claims that global automakers such as Hyundai, Kia and Genesis will successively launch this function in the next year, trying to accelerate the expansion of the ecosystem. ‌But on the other hand, mainstream brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Volvo, Polestar and Renault have publicly boycotted CarPlay Ultra, worried about its erosion of control over the in-vehicle system. Industry analysts pointed out that such boycotts stem from the competitive pressure of automakers against the rise of Chinese electric rivals, and the competition for software dominance is exacerbating industry differentiation.

‌Specifically‌, CarPlay Ultra deeply integrates the vehicle dashboard and system to provide customized interfaces, real-time driving data (such as speed and tire pressure), and native applications such as radio and climate control, aiming to enhance the user experience. ‌Interestingly, although Polestar has expressed its expectation to introduce the next generation of CarPlay, it contradicts the boycott position exposed by the Financial Times, reflecting the wavering mentality of automakers in technological cooperation. ‌Overall‌, although Porsche's joining has injected a shot in the arm for Apple, the collective resistance of the leading brands may force CarPlay Ultra to reshape its promotion strategy. The current battle for technology landing has evolved into a watershed for control of the automotive ecosystem.