BMW has confirmed it will not be integrating Apple’s CarPlay Ultra into its vehicles, according to a statement from a BMW AG spokesperson, who said, “BMW currently has no plans to integrate Apple CarPlay Ultra.”
The German automaker is instead focusing on its proprietary iDrive system, having announced a revamped version earlier this year at CES. The updated iDrive is set to debut in the iX3 model and will subsequently be rolled out across all Neue Klasse vehicles.
Although standard CarPlay will continue to be supported in BMW vehicles, its integration will be limited. As previously announced at CES, CarPlay functionality will be restricted to the center display and will not be extended to other surfaces such as panoramic or heads-up displays.
CarPlay Ultra, which promises deeper integration between iPhones and car systems, was launched recently after a significant delay. Despite initial assurances of broad support from automakers, the project has seen a decline in momentum. Several brands, including Fiat, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Rivian, and Volkswagen, are among the 20 manufacturers that have either confirmed they will not be supporting the feature or have not yet committed to its integration.
