The MacRumors Show: AppleCare One Announced and Automakers Snub CarPlay Ultra

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through this week's announcement of AppleCare One and automakers' opting out of CarPlay Ultra.

AppleCare One is Apple's new subscription for customers to cover multiple devices with a single plan. It starts at $19.99 per month for up to three products, with the ability to add more for $5.99 per month for each additional device. The plan incudes all of the benefits that come with ‌AppleCare‌+, such as unlimited repairs for accidents, priority support, battery coverage, and more.

Subscribers can freely move their devices in and out of the plan at any time. ‌AppleCare‌ One also enables users to add products they already own that are up to four years old, providing they are in good condition, extending beyond the current 60-day window to purchase ‌AppleCare‌+. When a customer trades in a covered product with Apple, it is automatically removed from their ‌AppleCare‌ One plan and replaced with the new device.

‌AppleCare‌ One also expands theft and loss protection to the iPad and Apple Watch. Previously, it was only available for the iPhone.

‌AppleCare‌ One's pricing is the same regardless of the products that are covered. Apple says that a customer who enrolls their ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, and Apple Watch could save up to $11 per month versus enrolling in separate ‌AppleCare‌+ plans for each device.

Customers in the United States can now sign up for AppleCare One on their ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, or Mac, or by visiting an Apple Store.

We also discuss the news that automakers including BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, Polestar, Renault, and General Motors will not support ‌CarPlay‌ Ultra. It seems to be a major retreat from Apple's 2022 announcement, which originally named 14 automakers as future ‌CarPlay‌ Ultra partners.

‌CarPlay‌ Ultra goes far beyond traditional ‌CarPlay‌ by taking control of the entire dashboard experience. The system displays vehicle information like temperature, speed, and fuel levels alongside ‌iPhone‌ apps, creating what Apple calls "a unified and consistent experience across all the driver's screens."

Currently, only Aston Martin offers CarPlay Ultra in production vehicles. Hyundai and its Kia and Genesis cars remain committed partners, while Porsche plans future support. Other originally announced brands like Ford and Nissan have provided no updates on their ‌CarPlay‌ Ultra plans.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about all of the latest rumors about Apple's first foldable ‌iPhone‌ amid a multitude of reports about the device and its launch firming up for next year.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

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Top Rated Comments

Eriamjh1138@DAN Avatar
7 months ago

It is a solution in search of a problem.
It's Apple's solution born of the $10B spent for the Apple Car cancelled project. Apple is trying to recover those costs.

I'll tell you why there are few or no takers (IMHO).

No OEM wants Apple to any other company to be the face or interface of their brand inside the car or anywhere.

That's why CarPlay is being dropped left and right and that's why CarPlay2 is DOA.

Plus, OEMs are already spending money to create the dashboard and infotainment screens and don't want to pay a license fee on every car to support a feature only some iPhone users will use.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dr Nobody Important Avatar
7 months ago
Ultimately they will all support Apple CarPlay Ultra as their customers will demand that they do.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Truckondo Avatar
7 months ago
CarPlay Ultra is a neat concept, but I understand why automakers might be reluctant on implementing the full dash display. Too much liability and it cuts into the automaker design. I’m fine with standard CarPlay how it is functioning on my infotainment screen.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Quicksilver867 Avatar
7 months ago

Automakers can shove their cars where the sun doesn't shine. No CarPlay of any kind, no sale.
I imagine they'll still support standard CarPlay. I can't blame them for not wanting the headache of additional integration into the vehicle; integration of CarPlay is already enough of a testing workload. Source: used to work with infotainment groups at a major OEM.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FatLouie Avatar
7 months ago

Well, it's very simple ... I will (as probably many other iPhone / Apple users) just have to choose between the cars that (continue to) offer Apple CarPlay Ultra and forget about the others.
Car manufacturers do not seem to be too concerned about that decision or yours.

I will forget about the cars that offer CarPlay Ultra. As Apple is loath to fix the numerous bugs in their various OS, I damn sure do not want Apple CU integrated deeply into the car dashboard system or anywhere else in my car. Suppose an Apple update to CU follows the same standards as their updates to iOS. In that case, I can expect my car battery to overheat, the fuel gauge to be inaccurate, and advertisements for Apple products to be displayed on the screen. I certainly do not want to pop open the bonnet and disconnect the car battery to reboot CarPlay Ultra. No thank you.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neilk Avatar
7 months ago
With more and more automakers now requiring added subscriptions for basic functions, it’s not surprising that they don’t want Ultra taking their revenue.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)