CarPlay Overview
Contents
At its core, CarPlay is Apple's way of bringing iOS to in-car infotainment systems and dashboards. It's designed to display information from the iPhone on a car's built-in infotainment unit, giving drivers a safe way to make phone calls, send text messages, listen to music, and access Maps -- all of the things a driver might want to do with an iPhone while driving a car.
When connected to an in-dash system via the iPhone's Lightning/USB-C port or wirelessly in some cars, CarPlay gives the user in-car access to information stored on the iPhone, like contacts for phone calls and messages, music playlists and controls, Maps for navigation, calendar events, and more. Because CarPlay pulls its information from the iPhone, there's virtually no setup involved.
Automobile manufacturers have been building CarPlay support into cars since 2015, but there's also a way to get CarPlay in existing vehicles -- many aftermarket in-dash systems from companies like Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, and Alpine are compatible with CarPlay and are readily available at reasonable prices. Porsche has even created an aftermarket system for Porsche models dating as far back as the 1960s. More than 800 models in the United States offer CarPlay, which covers most car manufacturers.
CarPlay is designed to be largely hands-free, introducing as little driver distraction as possible, and for that reason, it is voice-based and reliant on Apple's personal assistant Siri. Siri is used to perform a range of actions in the car, like placing phone calls, getting directions, sending and reading text messages, playing music, accessing apps, and more.
There are physical controls in the form of buttons and knobs that can activate Siri for CarPlay purposes, but these controls vary from vehicle to vehicle, based on how each manufacturer has implemented them. Systems with touch screens are able to accommodate touch-based input as well, and special adapters can enhance in-car integration of aftermarket CarPlay solutions.
iOS already offers a consistent Apple experience across tablets and smartphones, but with CarPlay, that's also extended to the car in an easy-to-use format that people are already familiar with. CarPlay has an updated, modernized design that features rounded corners, table views, and a status bar, with the design mirroring what you see on the iPhone. The CarPlay Dashboard offers up easier access to maps, audio controls, and Siri Suggestions, plus there's a useful design for the Calendar app that makes it easy to see the day's events at a glance.
Apple Music includes album art in Now Playing and updated discovery tools, and when you activate Siri, Siri only takes up part of the screen so you can still see the rest of the CarPlay interface. Apple Maps is available persistently on the dashboard, even when there are points of interest, and many Maps features are available in CarPlay, such as route planning, search, and navigation, along with a Junction View that offers up a clear picture of intersections and the lane you need to be in.
There's a light mode that's an alternative to the traditional dark mode, and there's a settings app for changing display options and Do Not Disturb settings. CarPlay supports customizable wallpapers, so you can choose a new look for the CarPlay Dashboard and Home Screen. Cars with portrait screens also have the option of a status bar on the bottom of the CarPlay display, for wider app views and a more natural layout.
Additional app categories are supported, so CarPlay users can download third-party parking, EV charging (including the ChargePoint app with CarPlay integration), and quick food ordering apps. Siri in CarPlay can send audio messages and share ETAs with friends and family, among other features.
Because CarPlay is a rather ambitious effort requiring the cooperation of automobile makers and third-party hardware companies, it was initially slow to get off the ground, but currently, a whole range of CarPlay-enabled vehicles are available and CarPlay support is increasingly common in new vehicles.
Apple has even introduced a next-generation version of CarPlay with deeper integration with vehicles, called CarPlay Ultra. CarPlay Ultra includes multi-display support, integration with in-car instrument clusters, access to a vehicle's climate controls, widget support, an FM radio app, and more.
The first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay support were announced in late 2023, and the first vehicle with CarPlay Ultra debuted in May 2025.
CarPlay Ultra
In May 2025, Apple finally unveiled its next-generation version of CarPlay, CarPlay Ultra. Available in Aston Martin vehicles to begin with, CarPlay Ultra will expand to other vehicle manufacturers over time. Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, for example, have pledged future support.
With CarPlay Ultra, Apple's aim is to provide the "ultimate in-car experience" with deeper integration with the vehicle to provide the best of the iPhone and the best of the car. CarPlay Ultra expands across all of the driver's screens, displaying real-time content and gauges in the instrument cluster, while also continuing to reflect the automaker's look and feel.
Improved Integration
CarPlay Ultra displays content on all of the screens in a car, including the instrument cluster, offering up a custom look for the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, and more, for a more consistent look and feel across the vehicle.
Drivers can opt to show information from their iPhone like Maps and media right alongside information from the car, such as advanced driver assistance systems and tire pressure, in the instrument cluster.
Controls
Drivers can use onscreen controls, physical buttons, or Siri to manage standard vehicle functions like the radio's car and climate, as well as vehicle-specific features and controls like performance settings right from CarPlay, rather than having separate control systems like the original version of CarPlay.
Widgets
CarPlay Ultra supports widgets that are powered by iPhone, with the widgets designed to fit the car's screen or gauge cluster to provide useful information at a glance.
Per-Vehicle Customization
With CarPlay Ultra, car manufacturers are able to customize the experience so that the overall look and feel matches with the design philosophy used for the vehicle. Apple works with each automaker's design team to create custom themes, for an experience that's tailor-made for each vehicle.
Drivers are also able to personalize the colors and wallpapers of themes to match their tastes.
CarPlay Classic
The standard CarPlay interface that Apple has been using since 2015 is designed to be immediately familiar to anyone who has used iOS on an iPhone or iPad. Connecting an iPhone to CarPlay through a Lightning or USB-C cable brings up an iOS-style interface on the in-car display that offers a home screen complete with apps like Maps, Phone, Messages, Music, Podcasts, and several third-party offerings. Wireless connectivity is also available in some vehicles, eliminating the need to connect a cable each time you get in the car.
Apps are accessed via touch screen, through Siri, or through various in-car controls that might be located on the steering wheel, center console, or other location depending on the car manufacturer. On aftermarket offerings from companies like Pioneer and Alpine, physical controls are limited to buttons on the in-dash system unless special adapters are installed.
Though apps can be launched through touch-based controls, actions like sending a text message, making a phone call, or changing a music track are largely conducted through Siri. There is no on-screen keyboard for most functions, for example, so text messages are transcribed by voice much as they are when using dictation to send messages on an iPhone. More information on the included CarPlay apps and what they do can be found below.
Apple CarPlay Apps
Maps: Powered by the Apple Maps app on the iPhone, Maps within CarPlay lets users get detailed turn-by-turn directions to help them navigate. The CarPlay interface clearly displays the route, driving instructions, traffic conditions, and visual cues for upcoming turns. Estimated time of arrival is also included, along with an estimate of driving time and distance until the destination is reached.
Maps draws in location information from apps like Messages, Calendar, and Mail, and it also includes previous searches made on iOS. For example, if a user has a specific location for an upcoming meeting stored in the Calendar app, Maps pulls that info into the CarPlay interface. Maps also allows for voice commands through Siri, so it's possible to ask Siri to find a gas station, a museum, or a specific address. Maps supports traffic alerts and can provide alternate routes to save time in traffic-heavy areas.
On select electric vehicles, Maps on iPhone and CarPlay supports EV routing, monitoring your vehicle's charge status and suggesting appropriate charging stations along your route. For select charging providers, you can even see real-time charging station availability.
CarPlay also supports third-party Maps apps like Google Maps, giving CarPlay users an alternative to Apple Maps. Many map apps have since added CarPlay support, including Google Maps, Waze, and others.
Phone: With the Phone app, it's possible to ask Siri to dial calls, return missed calls, and listen to voice mail. The CarPlay Phone app also has a keypad so numbers can be punched in on the touchscreen, but for the most part, calls can be initiated by asking Siri to dial an existing contact.
A user might say, "Call mom," for example, to place a phone call over the car's speaker system. In-car controls are also used alongside the touchscreen for functions like muting calls or initiating conference calls.
Messages: As with phone calls, sending a message is reliant on Siri. Messages are dictated aloud to the voice assistant, with Siri confirming the content of the message to ensure accuracy before sending. When a response is received, Siri asks if the user wants it read aloud and then gives the option to send another text message, with the entire interaction being voice-based to prevent users from looking at their iPhones while driving.
Sample commands within the Messages app include "Read message from Kelly," or "Send message to mom," followed by the message content.
Audiobooks: The Audiobooks app is part of the Books app and lets users listen to audiobooks in their vehicles.
Apple Music: The CarPlay Music app allows customers to access content that has been downloaded from iTunes, the Apple Music streaming service, and the free Beats 1 radio station. Like other CarPlay apps, the Music app's interface is immediately recognizable, with access to Artists, Songs, and Playlists. With Siri, it's possible for Apple Music subscribers to play a specific songs or artists on-demand with commands like "Siri, play Beyonce."
With SharePlay, everyone in the car can contribute to a playlist, and support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos allows car manufacturers to build more immersive sound experiences.
Podcasts: With the Podcasts app, CarPlay users can listen to their downloaded podcasts. The CarPlay interface is similar to the interface on iOS devices and should be immediately familiar to those who frequently use the Podcasts app.
Calendar: Apple's native Calendar app gives you a glanceable look at your daily schedule while also allowing you to get directions to appointments or dial in to meetings with just a tap.
The Calendar app also integrated into the Dashboard view, offering convenient access to the most immediately upcoming events at relevant times.
News: The News app lets you listen to Apple News Today audio briefings, with Apple News+ subscribers having access additional features like audio versions of select news stories.
Third-Party CarPlay Apps
Apple also lets third-party developers create dedicated apps for CarPlay. Available apps are generally audio-focused and largely non-visual, in order to avoid introducing distractions into the car, with the content being played through the car's speakers.
Third-party apps only show up on the CarPlay display if the app is installed on the iPhone. So, for example, if a user regularly listens to Spotify on the iPhone and has the Spotify app installed, Spotify is also available via the CarPlay interface.
Because of the audio-focused restriction, there are a limited number of apps that are compatible with CarPlay, but there are many podcast, maps, music, and communication apps that work with CarPlay. In recent years, Apple has expanded the types of supported CarPlay apps to include categories such as fueling/EV charging, parking, and quick food ordering.
CarPlay Reviews
We've done a number of reviews of different CarPlay-enabled vehicles, all of which can be found below. CarPlay itself is essentially the same across various cars, but every manufacturer has a unique implementation due to the differences between infotainment systems, ranging from screen sizes and aspect ratios to control methods and other details.
CarPlay Partners
CarPlay is available in over 800 cars dating back nearly a decade, with manufacturers like Cadillac, Chevrolet, Fiat-Chrysler, Ford, GMC, Honda, Kia, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Nissan, BMW, Hyundai, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, Infiniti, and more offering CarPlay-equipped vehicles that are available now. Even semi trucks are gaining CarPlay support, with Volvo introducing its CarPlay-equipped VNL series trucks, and select manufacturers like Honda, Indian Motorcycle, and Slingshot have even introduced motorcycles with CarPlay support.
Apple has an official master list of all the CarPlay vehicles available in the United States and other countries. For those in search of a CarPlay-equipped vehicle, Apple's list is the best way to determine the options that are available. It is updated on a regular basis to add new models, but may not include new CarPlay vehicles as soon as they are announced. For that reason, the CarPlay Timeline at the bottom of this roundup is also a good resource for finding news on CarPlay vehicles as soon as they're announced.
Apple's list includes over 800 2014–2025 models from nearly all vehicle manufacturers, and additional automobile manufacturers are adding support on a regular basis, though there a few holdouts like Tesla and Rivian that want to maintain control over the infotainment experience. Longtime CarPlay supporter GM is even phasing out support for the feature in its new EVs, claiming greater safety and tighter integration by forcing users to stay in the native infotainment system.
Aftermarket Systems
Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, JVC, JBL, and Sony all sell various aftermarket CarPlay systems for installation in vehicles that do not come standard with the feature. The aftermarket systems generally retail for between $400 and $1,400 depending on the model, and can usually be retrofitted into older vehicles for relatively minimal costs.
Aftermarket CarPlay systems works similarly to CarPlay systems installed in new vehicles, but they may lack some of the built-in vehicle controls at the steering wheel and in other locations. Aftermarket systems were some of the first CarPlay implementations and companies like Pioneer and Kenwood have been producing them for several years, though they have become less practical in newer vehicles as built-in infotainment systems have become more powerful and control more of the vehicles' functionality.
CarPlay in iOS 26
With iOS 26, CarPlay is getting a new Liquid Glass design. The look includes layered glass-like app icons and translucent user interface elements.
New Messages App Features
Starting with iOS 26, you can respond to messages with standard Tapbacks like a heart, thumbs up, or exclamation marks directly through CarPlay.
CarPlay also now displays pinned conversations in the Messages app.
Phone Calls
Apple added a compact view for incoming phone calls, so that you can still see other information on the screen, such as turn-by-turn directions.
Live Activities and Widgets
CarPlay's Dashboard screen can now show Live Activities, letting you keep track of things like a flight's arrival time at a glance.
The regular version of CarPlay also now has a widgets screen, for things like calendar appointments and HomeKit accessory controls.
Other New Features
- Multi-Touch Maps - Starting with iOS 26, CarPlay users can interact with mapping apps using multi-touch gestures in supported vehicles. This allows users to zoom and pan on the map with their fingers, just like they can on an iPhone.
- Watch Videos While Parked - iPhone users can wirelessly stream videos to the CarPlay screen using AirPlay, according to Apple. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the vehicle is parked, to prevent distracted driving. The connected iPhone will be able to detect when the vehicle is in motion and end playback. Automakers need to add support for this feature, so it might be limited to newer vehicles and take some time to roll out.
- Smart Display Zoom - iOS 26 adds a new Smart Display Zoom setting to CarPlay. When the setting is enabled, CarPlay will be automatically resized to better fit the shape and size of your vehicle's dashboard screen, if possible.
Wireless CarPlay
Since iOS 9, Apple has supported wireless CarPlay implementations. Many CarPlay setups require an iPhone to be plugged in directly to the in-dash system to connect, but wireless CarPlay alleviates the need for a Lightning or USB-C cable, allowing an iPhone to connect to an in-car system wirelessly.
BMW was the first car manufacturer to implement wireless CarPlay support, in 2016, but over the years, many other car manufacturers have adopted the feature, such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, GM, Hyundai, Honda, and more, but it is not yet universal.
Alpine and Pioneer also both make aftermarket wireless CarPlay systems, which do not require an iPhone to be plugged in to the car, instead using Wi-Fi.
Many users still prefer to plug their phones in for CarPlay, ensuring a more stable connection with less potential for lag while also allowing for device charging on longer trips, though many vehicles are now equipped with wireless chargers that can make it convenient to keep your phone topped off without needing to plug it in.
Compatible Devices
CarPlay is compatible with all modern iPhones. CarPlay does not work with the iPad in part because cellular connectivity is required and certain iPhone-exclusive functionality like the Phone app are key to the CarPlay experience. While some iPad models do support cellular connectivity, Apple has not made its tablets compatible with CarPlay.
Available Countries
CarPlay is available in 36 countries, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the United States. Not all features are available in all countries, however.
