New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close
Amazon Prime Day Deals

Toyota Currently Has No Plans to Support CarPlay or Android Auto in U.S.

Sunday February 22, 2015 3:09 pm PST by Eric Slivka
carplay_touchWhile Toyota has long been listed as one of Apple's CarPlay partners, the third best-selling auto brand in the U.S. currently has no plans to offer vehicles with the feature in that country, as noted in a New York Times overview of the race between Google and Apple to own the dashboard. Toyota also has no plans to offer Android Auto support in the U.S.
John Hanson, the national manager of Toyota’s advanced technology communications, said while the company talked frequently with both Google and Apple, it currently had no plans to adopt Android Auto or CarPlay in the United States.

“We may all eventually wind up there, but right now we prefer to use our in-house proprietary platforms for those kinds of functions,” Mr. Hanson said.
While Toyota is ruling out the U.S. market for CarPlay support for the time being, the company has not made any firm announcement about support in other countries. Shortly after Apple's CarPlay announcement, Toyota's UK division briefly posted a blog entry claiming CarPlay would be coming in 2015, but the company quickly backtracked on the claim.

Today's report from The New York Times focuses more on Android Auto than on CarPlay, likely due in large part to Apple refusal to comment for the piece. Still, it offers a glimpse of the struggles auto manufacturers have had developing in-car systems and their reluctance to turn that experience over to Apple and Google.

With consumer preference driving the market, however, many manufacturers now see little choice but to support both CarPlay and Android Auto. Vehicles supporting both systems are expected to be hitting showrooms in the near future, with Hyundai likely one of the first out of the gate.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tags: Toyota, Android Auto
[ 318 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
hattonna928
57 months ago
When will car companies realize that they can't make this kind of stuff... The interfaces for these systems are all terrible. It doesn't matter what brand it is either: Honda, Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, etc. None of them make good "infotainment" systems. Clunky and difficult to use is an understatement. They make cars. They need to give up and let Apple and Google do the software...
Rating: 73 Votes
Avatar
DTphonehome
57 months ago
"we prefer to use our in-house proprietary platforms"

Clearly not thinking about what the consumer wants.
Rating: 51 Votes
Avatar
mathcolo
57 months ago
This reminds me of Verizon not going along with the whole iPhone thing in early 2007 and letting AT&T have that luxury until 2011. Not sure that was the best idea...
Rating: 40 Votes
Avatar
IbisDoc
57 months ago
Fortunately, I've never had the urge to buy a car from that company.
Rating: 17 Votes
Avatar
coolfactor
57 months ago
I never expected this from Toyota, but I guess they see it as a way of differentiating themselves. Too bad that will drive potential customers to other brands. I just can't see how their proprietary system could be better in any way.

----------

Fortunately, I've never had the urge to buy a car from that company.


Toyotas are quality machines.
Rating: 17 Votes
Avatar
Greenstein
57 months ago
HUGE disappointment for those of us in the United States that are a fan of Toyota vehicles. While I'm not likely to get a new car for another 2-4 years, I sincerely hope they've changed their mind by then. If not, I might have to look to a different vehicle brand.

I'm the type of person that holds onto their car for 10 years (if possible), so when I do make the move for my next vehicle (was hoping it would be Toyota again), I'll have to do a full evaluation.

Carplay isn't everything and who knows, maybe it'll be something completely different than what it is today, but these are my current thoughts based on this news today.
Rating: 15 Votes
Avatar
rezenclowd3
57 months ago

When will car companies realize that they can't make this kind of stuff... The interfaces for these systems are all terrible. It doesn't matter what brand it is either: Honda, Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, etc. None of them make good "infotainment" systems. Clunky and difficult to use is an understatement. They make cars. They need to give up and let Apple and Google do the software...


And when will everyone else realize touch screens and infotainment screens in general are dangerous in cars.
Rating: 15 Votes
Avatar
rmatthewware
57 months ago
Let me go ahead and scratch Toyota off my potential-next-car list.
Rating: 15 Votes
Avatar
farewelwilliams
57 months ago
what car manufacturer wants to support Apple after all the Apple car rumors now?
Rating: 13 Votes
Avatar
NachoGrande
57 months ago
The Toyota user interface is horrendous... Horrendous....
Rating: 11 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]