Apple Takes the Wraps off CarPlay

ferrari car
Ferrari will be one of the first car makers to offer Apple CarPlay to its drivers

Apple will officially launch its in-car version of iOS as CarPlay at the Geneva Motor Show this week. The company has also unveiled a raft of car makers who are adopting the system. Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo will be the first three car manufacturers to premiere CarPlay this week. Others with plans to introduce the system include BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota.

CarPlay enables iPhone users to make calls, use Maps, listen to music and access messages via Siri voice control or touch. Users control CarPlay from the car’s native interface or push-and-hold the voice control button on the steering wheel to activate Siri. When incoming messages or notifications arrive, Siri responds to requests through voice commands, by reading drivers’ messages and letting them dictate responses or make a call.

“CarPlay has been designed from the ground up to provide drivers with an incredible experience using their iPhone in the car,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPhone and iOS product marketing. “iPhone users always want their content at their fingertips and CarPlay lets drivers use their iPhone in the car with minimised distraction. We have an amazing lineup of auto partners rolling out CarPlay, and we’re thrilled it will make its debut this week in Geneva.”
CarPlay is available as an update to iOS 7 and works with Lightning-enabled iPhones, including iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5. CarPlay will be available in selected vehicles shipping in 2014.