Audi will begin offering Apple’s CarPlay in 2016 model year vehicles in Europe and US.
Audi will begin to offer Apple CarPlay in new models that are scheduled for release in Europe by 2015 and in the United States by 2016.
Audi follows Hyundai, Ferrari, Mercedes Benz, Volvo and Honda as car companies that have announced that they will be releasing cars that support CarPlay.
Formally announced in March earlier this year, CarPlay takes full advantage of the user's iPhone in upgrading the driving experience. Plugging in the iPhone into a CarPlay-supported vehicle gives users complete access to functions such as Messages, Music and Apple Maps on the display of the car. Navigating CarPlay is done either through voice with Siri, tapping on the touchscreen, or using buttons and knobs.
CarPlay is advanced enough to predict where you will most probably be going, according to the addresses found within your e-mail messages, text messages, calendars and contacts.
Talks between Apple closed last week, and the deal was confirmed Monday, Audi spokesman Brad Stertz said. CarPlay-equipped Audis are expected to hit U.S. showrooms by 2016.
Stertz said CarPlay will be an added feature for cars equipped with Audi Music Interface, and is not expected to add to the price of the vehicle.
CarPlay connects the driver’s Apple devices to the vehicle’s built-in controls -- accessing phone calls, messages, Apple Maps and music -- which can minimize distraction. Drivers will have access to both the CarPlay features and Audi infotainment features, and can switch over as needed.
Audi hasn’t decided which vehicles will be outfitted with CarPlay, Stertz said.
"Audi owners have high expectations when it comes to integrating access to mobile devices in vehicles," said Audi of America President Scott Keogh in a press release. "CarPlay is immediately recognizable to iPhone users and will be a great added benefit for our customers. That's why it was essential for Audi and Apple engineers to work closely together to seamlessly bring the capabilities of CarPlay to the advanced interfaces of the Audi MMI system."
Audi's partnership with Apple further solidifies the company's strategy of venturing into the digital car space. Just last week, Audi announced that it will also be working with Google to include Android Auto into some of its models slated for 2015.
Audi announced last week that it will also include Android Auto technology, which debuted at the 2014 Google annual technology conference in San Francisco, in some 2015 models.
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