Aston Martin has announced that its DBX SUV is the first vehicle to feature Apple’s next-generation infotainment system, CarPlay Ultra.
The South Korean brands Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis are among the next brands to start utilizing Apple’s latest operating system which allows iPhone users to have the same ecosystem in their vehicle.
It debuted for both its luxury DBX SUV and its sport models lineup, where it will come standard for all new orders in the U.S. and Canada. It works with iPhone 12 or later running the 18.5 (or later) version of the operating system.
The brand did not specify when it will be available as an update for existing vehicles, however it mentioned it will be “in the coming weeks” and “for existing core models featuring Aston Martin’s next-generation infotainment system.”
“As a brand our focus on world leading performance goes beyond the traditional attributes associated with powertrains, dynamic performance and craftsmanship,” CEO Adrian Hallmark stated.
The chief executive highlighted that Aston Martin’s “CarPlay Ultra will provide additional functionality and personalisation opportunities“ for the brand’s “in-house state-of-the-art infotainment system.”
Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said that CarPlay “has changed the way people interact with their vehicles.”
Apple is “reimagining the in-car experience and making it even more unified and consistent” in its collaboration with vehicle brands.
The tech giant will design custom themes for each of the brands, working with their design teams, “resulting in experiences that feel tailor-made for each vehicle.”
CarPlay Ultra is introducing widgets powered by iPhone that fit the car’s screen or gauge cluster to provide information at a glance. “Just like with CarPlay, rigorous privacy measures built into iPhone apply to CarPlay Ultra,” the company also highlighted.
“We are excited to kick off the rollout of CarPlay Ultra with Aston Martin,” Borchers said, “and this is just the beginning, with more automakers on the way.”
The current Apple CarPlay system is available in over 800 vehicle models, including models from U.S. EV maker Lucid Motors and Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) brands Polestar, BYD, Chery, Lynk&Co and Zeekr.
Last year, Rivian’s CEO RJ Scaringe said that the EV maker will not integrate Apple CarPlay into its vehicles. “As much as I love their products, there’s a reason that ironically aligns with Apple’s own ethos — our desire to control the entire ecosystem.”
