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CarPlay Ultra has launched, but several major carmakers haven’t pledged support, including BMW, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen.
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Many of these brands still support standard CarPlay, with the exception of Tesla and Rivian, which continue to forgo Apple integration entirely.
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Apple’s expanded control over vehicle functions appears to be a sticking point, as some manufacturers prefer to retain control of their in-car systems.
Apple’s long-awaited CarPlay Ultra has officially hit the road with Aston Martin, but not every carmaker is keen to let it behind the wheel.
Not everyone's cup of silicon
While Aston Martin is first to the grid with CarPlay Ultra baked into its newest models, a host of other marques are still waving the caution flag.
Apple has secured pledges from brands like Audi, Volvo, Honda, Nissan, Ford and Porsche - meaning support is coming, even if timelines vary.
But some big names are firmly parked in the “no” lane for now.
BMW, Mercedes-Benz (which notably pulled out after initially committing), and Toyota headline a surprisingly long list of manufacturers who haven’t pledged support.
Others include Buick, BYD, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, GMC, Jeep, Lexus, Mazda, RAM, Rivian, Subaru, Suzuki, Tesla and Volkswagen.
“Standard” CarPlay still steering the ship
It's worth noting that most of these holdouts still support the standard version of CarPlay, with the usual exceptions (Tesla and Rivian), who have long shunned Apple integration altogether.
So while CarPlay Ultra remains off the table, the core features that iPhone users know and love aren’t going away just yet.
The sticking point? Control
So why the cold shoulder? DRIVEN Car Guide understands Apple’s ambition to extend CarPlay Ultra’s reach deeper into the vehicle’s core systems, including in instrument clusters, climate control and beyond, might be a bridge too far for some manufacturers.
With many brands investing heavily in their own infotainment ecosystems, Apple’s expanding footprint is understandably viewed as a threat to control and branding.
Whether more brands will eventually U-turn remains to be seen. For now, it’s clear that CarPlay Ultra isn’t the automatic win Apple might’ve hoped for - at least not yet.
